By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
For decades, fire outbreaks have been a nightmare for Ghanaian traders. From devastating market infernos in Accra and Kumasi to frequent incidents in Tema, lives and livelihoods worth millions of cedis have gone up in smoke. In 2024 alone, the Tema Region recorded 616 fire incidents, while nationwide, fires killed nearly 200 people and injured over 1,400 others. The highest incidents were linked to domestic, commercial, electrical, vehicular, and bush fires according to the Ghana National Fire Service.
Against this backdrop, the Tema West Municipal NADMO has launched a new empowerment drive: turning market women, often the victims of these tragedies, into frontline responders.
Simulating an Emergency: From Quiz to Real-Life Drill
At the Texpo Market, scores of women laid down their wares to pick up fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and CPR mannequins. Under the theme “Act Fast, Save Lives,” they were taught to fight flames, evacuate people, and save lives through first aid.
“Market women are the heartbeat of our economy. If we equip them with knowledge, they can protect not only their own stalls but the entire community,” said Kweku Nana Tantantu, Tema West NADMO Director.
The training began with a lively safety quiz, testingand participants’ knowledge of fire prevention tactics. This launched into a session titled Understanding Fire, where educators explained common market fire sources: faulty wiring, gas cylinder leaks, open cooking fires, and discarded cigarette butts.
When Every Minute Counts
In one practical drill, a trader placed a call to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) emergency line to test response time. A fire ambulance arrived in eleven minutes, demonstrating the importance of early reporting during emergencies.
ADO Joshua Kugblenu
However, facilitator ADO I Joshua Kugblenu of the Tema West Municipal Assembly explained that the response time was delayed because access routes were blocked.
“The delay was not because the Fire Service was slow,” he said. “Market women had blocked the way with tables and goods, and vehicles had also taken up space along the road. If the road had been free, our arrival time would have been much shorter than eleven minutes.”
Market women also raised concerns that fire tenders often arrive without water. Kugblenu clarified that this was a misconception.
“The Fire Service trucks always move with water,” he explained. “But if the initial supply runs out, we must quickly refill. The challenge comes when water access points in the market are covered by kiosks and goods. That makes it difficult to replenish the tanks. Today’s exercise gave traders a real feel of how much water is carried in the fire truck and how it is discharged during an operation.”
Traders were also given live demonstrations on the use of fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Market women practiced extinguishing controlled flames themselves, learning how soaked cloths can be used to smother small fires. Evacuation drills showed participants how to safely guide people out of enclosed spaces.
First Aid: Learning to Save Lives
The second phase of the programme focused on first aid training, conducted by emergency medical staff from the Tema West Ambulance Service. Market women were introduced to CPR techniques and the recovery position, practicing resuscitation on training mannequins under the supervision of instructors.
Hassan Saani
Senior Emergency Medical Technician and Tema West Ambulance Station Manager, Hassan Saani, also praised NADMO for extending the training to traders.
“Emergency response begins with the people on the ground,” he noted. “If you can provide basic first aid before the ambulance arrives, you increase the chances of survival significantly. Always call 112 during emergencies and provide the care you can until help comes.”
Municipal NADMO Director, Kweku Nana Tantantu, explained that the initiative was designed to curb recurring fire outbreaks in markets.
“We are starting with our market women because they are the heartbeat of the local economy,” he said. “By equipping them to with knowledge on fire safety and first aid, we are protecting lives, livelihoods, and property within the municipality.”
The programme ended with an open forum, where traders shared personal experiences of fire incidents and asked facilitators questions. Many described the training as an “eye-opener,” saying it gave them confidence to act effectively in emergencies.
The Tema West NADMO has pledged to extend similar training programmes to other markets in the municipality, in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ambulance Service.Officers stressed that in the event of a fire or medical emergency, traders and the public should immediately call the official emergency numbers 192 (Fire Service) or 112 (National Emergency Line). Quick reporting, they emphasized, is the surest way to save lives and minimize losses.
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