Adum fire: Second Deputy Speaker calls for apolitical action to deal with urban safety
Speaking during a visit to the fire scene on Monday (14 April), Asiamah said the destruction caused by the fire should be a wake-up call for authorities to rethink how markets are built and managed across the country
Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, has called for a resolute and apolitical approach to addressing structural and behavioural challenges in urban markets, following the recent blaze at Kumasi’s Blue Light Market.
His comments come in the wake of controversial remarks by the new Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Boadi who threatened to use force against traders who flout city bylaws.
Speaking during a visit to the fire scene on Monday (14 April), Asiamah said the destruction caused by the fire should be a wake-up call for authorities to rethink how markets are built and managed across the country.
“This should serve as breathing space for us to sit down and think—how our markets are constructed, how we can address some of these issues, so we don’t witness the same disasters again,” the Fomena MP said.
He noted that poor enforcement of city laws, coupled with political interference, often hampers efforts to regulate urban spaces.
“Every day you go to a place, and it has been blocked. People are doing things to satisfy their own interests,” he stated, adding, “The authorities must be resolute. When they see something wrong, they must deal with it—regardless of political affiliation.”
According to the lawmaker, selective enforcement of rules undermines public confidence and creates room for impunity.
“If it is bad, it is bad—whether it is NPP or NDC. If we take that stance, we can address most of these issues,” he stated.
The fire, which tore through the Blue Light Market in Adum, Kumasi, destroyed dozens of shops and left many traders devastated.
While the cause is still under investigation, the incident has renewed calls for proper urban planning and enforcement of safety standards in markets across Ghana.
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