“We Must Not Repeat This” — Opoku-Agyemang Demands Answers After Accra Market Fire
The Vice President says a full assessment is needed to determine the cause of the Accra Central Market fire and prevent future incidents.
- Opoku-Agyemang calls for a full assessment of the Accra Central Market fire to prevent future incidents
- She urges authorities to prioritise safety and proper evaluation before reconstruction
- Government officials say lessons must be learned to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for a thorough evaluation of the circumstances leading to the recent fire outbreak at the Accra Central Market, stressing the need to identify what went wrong to prevent future incidents.
She made the remarks on Friday, June 5, during a visit to the market to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire, which disrupted trading activities at the busy commercial hub in the capital.
The Vice President was accompanied by the Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Accra Mayor, and other officials.
She expressed concern about the condition of the market facility, urging authorities to conduct a detailed assessment before any reconstruction or emergency interventions are undertaken.
“What is the state of this building? For how long has it been in this near-disaster condition? We need to examine all of these issues so we don’t repeat the situation,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that although there is urgency to respond to the fire damage, proper evaluation must guide all future decisions on redevelopment and safety improvements.
She further questioned the original design and usage of the facility, stressing the need to determine whether it was fit for purpose and how it had been managed over time.
“We need to find out exactly what went wrong… That is the only way we avoid repeating the same situation,” she noted.
The Vice President also commended emergency responders for their swift action in containing the fire.
She added that while redevelopment options, including possible modern high-rise structures, may be considered, such decisions must be based on technical assessments rather than urgency alone.
