The Millennium Development Authority, MiDA, says it will embark on an exercise to improve electricity supply to ten selected markets in Accra and Tamale, in order to reduce the incidence of market fires.
The CEO of the Authority, Martin Eson-Benjamin, who disclosed this to Citi Business News, said the agency will help in the provision of electricity which will enhance the activity of security personnel to clamp down on perpetrators of market fires due to the negligence or intentional acts of vendors or other users of such facilities.
The Kaneshie and Makola markets in Accra, as well as the Lamashegu market in Tamale, are tipped as part of the first batch of beneficiaries of this program.
Mr. Eson-Benjamin is hopeful the move should also reduce the losses associated with such avoidable market fires.
“The whole electrical connections are poor. We need to literally rewire the markets. In Accra, we selected eight various markets. In the North, we selected two markets to work in. In these markets, we are going to make sure that we look at the overall the system so that power now goes through the right processes. Obviously, we have to take out those who have done some connections which are not correct and ensure that everything is done properly so we can cut down on these incidences of fire,” Mr. Eson-Benjamin added.
The intervention by MiDA follows numerous fires at various market centers dotted across the country. Though the causes of the fires have not been made public despite investigations, there have been suspicions that some of the fires were caused by poor electrical wiring.
source: Citibusiness.com
