In the wake of the recent fire outbreak that gutted parts of Kejetia Market, the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) is calling on authorities to institute higher standards of surveillance at the various markets across the country.
According to GUTA, it is very unfortunate that authorities of the various markets are always preoccupied with the collection of taxes and levies leaving traders to their fate.
In a press statement released by the Union, GUTA noted that the “best way” to ensure the safety and security of markets in Ghana is to institute proper measures that will enhance surveillance and monitor traders in order to ensure that they are complying with the laid down rules.
“Effective policing of the markets by the authorities will be the best way to ensure safety and security of the market places rather than only collecting levies and leaving traders to their fate,” parts of the statement read.
The statement signed by the President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng added that, “may we also seize this opportunity to also console the Board and management of the market for the unfortunate incident and urge them to conduct independent investigations into the actual cause of the fire outbreak in the market and put in place a more effective mechanism to forestall such recurrence in the future.”
Expressing sympathies to all victims of the outbreak, GUTA called for independent investigations into the actual cause of the fire outbreak.
This, the Union suggests, will be a “more effective mechanism to forestall such recurrence in the future”.
It also disclosed that engagement is ongoing with some insurance companies to “start insuring members of the trading community in the markets based on the memorandum of understanding that will be beneficial to all in the event of such unforeseen calamity”.
