The Western Regional Fire Command is alarmed about the spate of excavations of hilly areas, particularly in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis saying a disaster is waiting if the activities were not stopped.
“These excavations are done to source materials for commercial and residential construction without due regard to public safety,” the Western Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO I) Frederick Ohemeng, has warned.
ACFO I Ohemeng expressed these concerns on Wednesday when the Command marked its safety week on the theme “60 years of existence: fire safety, the choice for a safer environment” at Fijai, near Takoradi, in the Western Region.
The event sought to rally public support in the promotion of critical safety measures to forestall future disasters.
Activities include public and fire education on radio, media engagement, fire safety workshop for market queens, event operators, pubs, district assemblies and market managers, inspection of national strategic installations like the Ghana Gas metering station at Essipong and the Takoradi Hospital.
ACFO I Ohemeng urged that regulatory institutions including the assemblies, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Spatial Department and the public should address the environmental challenges to avoid any future disasters like landslides, which would have dire consequences on the society.
He recalled the 2012 Melcom disaster in Accra in which buildings collapsed, causing a huge disaster with attendant economic and social dislocations.
He also deplored excavations on the hilly areas leaving huge holes in the environment, and causing floods in communities.
ACFO I Ohemeng continued “Our mandate is to protect public safety and strategic national assets and investment including Bank of Ghana, the Aboadze Thermal plant, and the Ghana Gas metering station at Essipong and so we don’t want any crisis to occur.
Commenting on the excavations, a safety engineer, Thomas Boakye, also explained that the hills and valleys maintained the ecosystem balance and therefore urged city authorities to maintain sanity in communities.
During panel discussions, the Officer-in-charge, Takoradi Market Circle station, Divisional Officer (DO) II Dorcas Dadzie, spoke about congestion caused by encroachment on roads and spaces by traders, cautioning that “we are not safe.”
She, however, spoke about education programmes to ensure free movements of people and safety at the market.
DO II Deborah Yankey also expressed similar concerns at the Sekondi market where traders had blocked roads and competing with big trucks.
She cautioned that “we need to be mindful of the Appiatse disaster and stop selling along the roads.”
A representative of the Administrator at the Sub metro, Francis Assiamah, pointed out that maintaining discipline at the Sekondi market was challenged by miscreants who removed directional signs meant to ensure safety, during Tuesday market days.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, FIJAI