Businessman reveals the cause of recent outbreaks and how it could be curbed

The recent rise in fire outbreaks is a worry to all. Mr. Afful Manu Benjamin, who is a businessman in the Tain District, of the Bono Region, has disclosed that Indiscipline, ignorance, and non-compliance to recommended basic fire safety measures and protocols are the major causes of fire outbreaks in various farming and business communities in Ghana.

According to him, most of the fire outbreaks recorded could have been prevented. the magnitude of damage could be reduced if people abide by the principles of fire prevention and controls.

Adding that, the situation is worse in various commuters' cashew farms, market places, other business environs, and even homes where most of the people depend on for a living. 

He stressed that people do not seek preventive measures, which he expressed worry.

"failure of the people to abide by the tenets of fire prevention has been the bane in preventing fire outbreaks, meanwhile Some people have set fires in some catchment areas where most of the people's cashew farms had been for productivity for a living, some do illegal electricity connections and even the method of cooking, and it's so sad and abhorring to see the trees and buildings guts by fire," he stressed. 

He underscored the need for the public to view the fighting of fires as a shared responsibility and urged the Gnana National Fire Services to deliver on its mandate by observing all the fire safety measures recommended to prevent fires from occurring and aid in responding to contingencies.

The businessman had mapped out a strategy two years ago, intensifying education on Radio stations on fire prevention and handling to curb the effect of fire outbreaks.

“Going forward in 2022, there is going to be more education, inspections, recommendations, and strict monitoring to ensure that people are complying with the recommendations and how to detect fires and the appropriate means of extinguishing method one should use,” he added.

He said he would further deepen his collaboration with the chiefs to tackle the fire outbreaks.