The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, has raised concerns about the use of residential facilities in the Central Business District (CBD) as unauthorized warehouses, following a fire that ravaged parts of Zongo Lane near Rawlings Park on Sunday.
The blaze consumed a wide range of stored items, including plastics, shoes and mattresses.
Hon. Sackey, who visited the scene with a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), yesterday assured the public of an operation to deal with the individuals responsible for converting residential spaces into warehouses.
She emphasized that such practices contribute significantly to the rapid spread of fires and endanger lives and property as most of the items stored were highly inflammable.
The Mayor attributed the severity of the blaze to the hazardous storage of combustible materials, which escalated the risk of explosions and complicated rescue efforts.
She called for immediate action to prevent future incidents, urging shop owners to temporarily vacate the area to prevent further loss of life and property.
Mayor Sackey commended the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for their prompt response, noting that their efforts were vital in containing the fire and preventing more extensive damage and mentioned the challenges posed by unauthorized constructions in the area, which hinder the enforcement of building standards and contribute to such disasters.
To address these issues, the Mayor assured stricter supervision of building regulations, particularly in enforcing the 10-feet regulation and urged relevant developers to ensure compliance to ensure public safety.
