WEST AFRICA
MAKOLA-ACCRA,GHANA
"Fire consumes, it devours, but it is also the herald of renewal, where destruction becomes the seed of creation."
Makola Market, established in Accra in 1924, stands as the city’s foremost wholesale and retail marketplace, integral to Ghana's urban life and a key trading hub. Known for its vast array of goods—from fresh produce and spare parts to household essentials, imported fabrics, and cosmetics—Makola is a comprehensive one-stop shop. Despite its bustling appearance, the market is systematically organized, with distinct areas allocated for various vendors and traders.
The market’s success is deeply rooted in the enterprising spirit and longstanding trading traditions of the Ga ethnic group, particularly its women, whose involvement dates back to the sixteenth century. Although initially dominated by the Ga, the market now includes women from all over Ghana, adding to its vibrant commercial atmosphere. Traders like Winnifred Aku Tetteh, who sells smoked fish, and Veronica Agbozo, a wax print vendor, have sustained their businesses for decades by adapting to global trends and cultural shifts to meet the needs of Accra's five million residents.
Makola's traders have faced significant challenges, particularly during the 1979 economic crisis when the government demolished parts of the market, blaming the sellers for rising prices and shortages. Despite this setback, the market rebounded and evolved into a thriving business center. However, threats persist, as demonstrated by the October 2023 fire that destroyed nearly 200 kiosks in the Makola Shopping Mall. This resilience in the face of adversity underscores Makola Market’s enduring role as a central economic and cultural institution in Accra.
Makola Market, located in the heart of Accra, Ghana, has been a central hub of commerce and trade since its establishment in the early 20th century. Its evolution reflects the socio-economic changes in Ghana, particularly during the colonial and postindependence eras. Originally a small trading space for local goods, Makola expanded rapidly following Accra’s growth as a colonial administrative center. The market became not only a commercial hub but also a political battleground, particularly during the 1979 military coup when much of the market was destroyed due to allegations of hoarding and price manipulation by traders (Arhin 1985). Despite these challenges, Makola Market was rebuilt and continues to thrive today, representing the resilience of Ghanaian traders, many of whom are women. The market plays a crucial role in the informal economy, serving as a significant site for the exchange of goods from across West Africa (Clark 1994). Makola’s history also reveals the tensions between traditional market practices and the state's attempts to modernize and regulate urban spaces (Hanson 2005). This dynamic between state authority and informal economies has shaped the development of the market and its surrounding areas, making Makola a key symbol of urban and economic transformation in Accra.
HISTORY OF MAKOLA, ACCRA-GHANA
TOMATOES FROM MAKOLA MARKET
Aperturewp, 2023, The Women Behind Accra’s Storied Makola Market, Aperture.
Aperturewp, 2023, The Women Behind Accra’s Storied Makola Market, Aperture.
Aperturewp, 2023, The Women Behind Accra’s Storied Makola Market,
MAKOLA,The First Major Incident (2000)
Makola Market, one of the busiest and most prominent markets in Accra, Ghana, has faced several devastating fire incidents over the years, causing significant economic losses and displacing many traders. The recurrence of these fires has raised questions about the safety measures in place and the overall management of the market.
The year 2000 marked one of the earliest significant fire incidents at Makola Market. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, spread rapidly through the market, engulfing hundreds of stalls. The response from fire services was delayed due to inadequate access routes and the congested layout of the market. As a result, the fire caused extensive damage, destroying goods worth millions of cedis and leaving many traders without a source of livelihood. This incident highlighted the need for improved fire safety measures, including better access for emergency services and more robust fire prevention strategies (Adomako, 2001).
MAKOLA,Repeated Tragedy(2008)
In 2008, Makola Market experienced yet another devastating fire. This time, the fire started in one of the central sections of the market and quickly spread to surrounding areas. Despite efforts to contain the fire, the damage was extensive, affecting hundreds of stalls and causing significant economic losses. The cause of the fire was later attributed to an electrical fault, a common issue in markets where wiring is often substandard and poorly maintained. The 2008 fire prompted calls for a comprehensive review of the market's infrastructure, particularly the electrical systems, to prevent future occurrences (Mensah & Gyasi, 2009).
taught by
Aperturewp, 2023, The Women Behind Accra’s Storied Makola Market, Aperture.
Storey building which caught fire at Makola Zongo Lane collapses, GhanaWeb.
An ecologically-based global fire map has been created using remotely sensed fire data for the entire world, which has been aggregated by the WWF ecoregions (see figure below, Pausas & Ribeiro 2013). We have evaluated the intermediate fire-productivity model Pausas & Paula 2012 using this map, which states that fire activity follows a humped relationship as it moves along the productivity/aridity gradient. According to the findings, fires happen in almost every biome and ecoregion on Earth. Tropical grasslands and savannas saw the highest levels of fire activity, which significantly declined as one moved toward the extremes of the productivity gradient. The above-ground biomass and the vulnerability of fire to high temperatures both rose monotonically with productivity. Put differently, fire activity in low-productivity ecosystems is not influenced by warm periods and is constrained by low biomass; on the other hand, fire is more susceptible to high temperatures in high-productivity ecosystems, where there is a greater abundance of biomass accessible for fires. The findings provide broad support for the intermediate productivity–renewability model and imply that the effects of climate change on fire activity could vary depending on local productivity levels. While fire activity is more susceptible to fuel changes in low-productivity locations (fuel-driven fire regime changes Pausas & Fernández, 2012), fire regimes in productive regions are more susceptible to warming (drought-driven fire regime changes).
An ecological based Global Fire Map from Pause and Ribiero (2013)
The year 2000 marked one of the earliest significant fire incidents at Makola Market. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, spread rapidly through the market, engulfing hundreds of stalls. The response from fire services was delayed due to inadequate access routes and the congested layout of the market. As a result, the fire caused extensive damage, destroying goods worth millions of cedis and leaving many traders without a source of livelihood. This incident highlighted the need for improved fire safety measures, including better access for emergency services and more robust fire prevention strategies (Adomako, 2001).
In 2024, Makola Market once again fell victim to a catastrophic fire, reigniting debates over the adequacy of safety measures in the market. This fire, which broke out in the evening, was one of the most severe in recent history, causing extensive damage to both property and livelihoods. The cause of the fire was traced back to an unattended gas cylinder explosion, a reminder of the persistent dangers posed by unsafe practices within the market. The 2024 fire has led to renewed calls for a complete overhaul of the market's infrastructure, including the installation of modern fire detection and suppression systems, improved access routes for emergency services, and comprehensive safety training for traders (Ofori, 2024).
Modelling of fire count data: fire disaster risk in Ghana
Boadi,
C., Harvey, S.K. & Gyeke-Dako
The article "Modelling of fire count data: fire disaster risk in Ghana" by Boadi et al. (2015) presents a comprehensive study on the modeling of fire count data to assess fire disaster risk in Ghana. The research aims to develop an early warning system (EWS) for fire management and to identify a base distribution for quantifying the likelihood and magnitude of fire-related losses across Ghana's administrative regions. The study utilizes fire count data from the Ghana Open Data Initiative, covering the period from 2007 to 2011, which includes monthly fire occurrences and corresponding fatalities.
Figure A is a spatial map that illustrates the observed fire frequency and fatality across different regions in Ghana. It provides a visual representation of how fire occurrence and fatalities due to fire are distributed throughout the country, indicating the severity of the fire risk in each region. This map is a crucial tool for understanding the geographical patterns of fire incidents and their impact on the population and infrastructure.Figure B refers to the quantile-quantile (Q-Q) and probability-probability (P-P) plots that are used to assess the goodness of fit for the statistical distributions applied to the fire count data. These plots help in visually comparing the empirical distribution of the data with the theoretical distributions, such as the Negative Binomial and Poisson distributions. The closer the plotted points are to the line of best fit in the Q-Q plot, the better the model fits the data. Similarly, the P-P plot indicates which statistical distribution best models the fire count data. These plots are essential for identifying the most appropriate distribution to model the stochastic variability of fire count data, taking into account any over-dispersion present in the data.
Best Fitting Distribution: The Negative Binomial Distribution is identified as the most suitable model for fire frequency and loss (fatalities) count data in Ghana. This distribution accounts for over-dispersion in the data, which is a limitation of the simpler Poisson Model.
Regional Variation: The Greater Accra Region has the highest monthly fire occurrence, likely due to its status as the most populous city in Ghana. The Ashanti Region records the highest monthly fire fatality.
Data Collection and Management: The authors emphasize the need for more robust data collection on fire to include activities leading to fire outbreaks. This would enhance the understanding of fire dynamics and improve fire management strategies.Resource Allocation: The National Disaster Risk Management and Ghana Fire Service are advised to allocate resources to areas with high fatality rates through fire, based on the predictions of the statistical models.
Future Research Directions: Future studies should focus on building models that include local covariates among regions and determining the relationship between capacity building and fire occurrences. Additionally, an extension of the work will examine the success of the Government of Ghana's efforts in fire prevention. Collaboration: Researchers, fire officers, and risk managers are encouraged to collaborate for further improvement and more effective fire management
Ecological Context: The appendix provides an ecological map of Ghana, outlining different ecological zones, which is relevant for understanding the context of fire risk in various areas of the country.
Fire-disaster risk has gained significant global attention, with most studies focusing on models that quantify fire frequency for prevention and understanding information needed for fire management decisions. Discrete distributions, such as lognormal, Poisson, and Negative Binomial Distribution, are commonly used for data on fire, ensuring timely decisions to mitigate the risk in various regions. In Ghana, recent fire outbreaks have shown that fire causes the greatest loss of life and property in informal settlements. Responding to fires, especially in informal settlements, remains a daunting task for vulnerable populations due to limited capacities to prevent fire risks. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports that 10 natural disasters occurred between 1900 and 2014 in Ghana, with disasters such as fire, pest, and flood epidemics occurring most often.
Disaster risk has become a commercial issue, with the forestry sector revealing an annual loss of revenue from merchantable timber to wildfires of about $24 million. The country loses money and resources due to numerous fire outbreaks, including domestic, industrial, institutional, vehicular, commercial, electrical fires, and bushfires.
The relationship between fire occurrence and its socioeconomic impact is crucial, requiring prediction, fire protection, and fire risk assessment. The UNDP recommends that necessary knowledge be available prior to the occurrence
Boadi, C., Harvey, S.K. & Gyeke-Dako, A., 2015, “Modelling of fire count data: fire disaster risk in Ghana,” SpringerPlus, 4(1).
Figure A: Spatial map of observed fire frequency and fatality for regions in Ghana. (Boadi et al., 2015,)
Figure B: Q–Q and P–P plot for fire data distribution.(Boadi et al., 2015,)
Fire risk communication in the urban informal sector: Evidence from traditionalmarketplaces in Accra, Ghana
Abunyewah, M., Okyere, S.A., Frimpong, L.K., Diko, S.K., Erdiaw‐Kwasie, M.O. & Boateng, V.
The paper, published in Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, examines the socio-cultural factors influencing fire risk communication and protective behaviors among traders in Accra's traditional marketplaces. Despite the economic and socio-cultural significance of these markets, scholarly attention has been limited, particularly regarding the challenges in risk communication between emergency management agencies and marketplace workers.
The study, conducted through in-depth interviews with public agencies and traders, reveals that traders' social networks are crucial for fire risk communication but are underutilized by formal emergency management agencies. Cultural elements, such as religious beliefs, impact proactive fire risk preparedness and response. The paper calls for integrating socio-cultural aspects into disaster risk planning and management to improve risk communication effectiveness.
The main causes of fire outbreaks in Ghana, as stated in the document, include faulty wiring, misuse of electrical gadgets, power fluctuations, accidents involving naked flames and lighting devices, smoking, and ignorance. These factors contribute to the regular occurrence of fires in the country, particularly in commercial markets, domestic areas, industrial zones, and institutions.
"Fire as a hazard continues to strike regularly and brings a devastating toll on property and human lives, particularly across the urban landscape of Ghana. In the last decade, a day has never passed without reading or hearing from news outlets about a fire outbreak in some parts of Ghana (Addai et al., 2016). Most of these fire occurrences have been in commercial (markets), domestic, industrial, and institutional areas (Oteng‐Ababio et al., 2015). The review of academic research and institutional reports demonstrate that faulty wiring and misuse of electrical gadgets, power fluctuations,accidents through the use of naked frames and lighting devices, smoking, and ignorance (Addai et al., 2016; Boateng, 2013) are the major causes of fire outbreaks in" Ghana. These underscore the need to strengthen and resource institutions such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for better risk communication"
"All respondents have directly heard about, witnessed, or experienced a market fire disaster. These variations in experiences with market fires seem to explain the differences in perceived risk and protective behaviors between participants from Makola and Nima. For the most part, respondents at the Makola market recounted past experiences with fire outbreaks, especially the February 2019 incident, which destroyed shops and items running into millions of Ghana Cedis. For these participants, market fires were perceived as a perennial threat to “our survival and ability to provide food for our families” (Participant M1, Makola)."
Analytical framework of market fire risk communication. Source: Authors’ elaboration
Profiling Accra and its marketplace fire risks. The study is geographically situated in Accra—Ghana's capital city. Since its establishment as the capital of the British Gold Coast in 1877, it has become a major administrative and economic centre. The city has experienced rapid growth, and it is considered one of the fastest growing cities in West Africa. The city's rapid growth and intense urbanisation manifest strongly in the urban informal economy, where about 60% of urban residents earn a living (Grant & Nijman, 2004).
Within Accra's urban informal economy, the traditional marketplace constitutes the strongest geographic constellation of services (e.g., urban food traders and processors, repairers, etc.) and micro manufacturing (e.g., textile and garments), dominated by women (Osei Boateng & Ampratwum, 2011). Even in the recent boom in upscale shopping malls in the city, the traditional marketplace maintains its dominance as themain economic hub for local households and retailers from neighboring countries such as Togo, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso (Grant & Yankson, 2003). In spite of its long history and immense contribution to urban livelihoods and the city economy (Robertson, 1983), the conditions of traditional marketplaces in urban Ghana are widely known to be precarious and vulnerable to a spectrum of risks, including fires (Oteng Ababio & Sarpong, 2015).Indeed, marketplace fires remain one of the most widespread commercial fires that are experienced in the country, especially in the urban metropolises owing to the congestion and poor urban planning. To illustrate this point, we present official data spanning 7 years to show the general trend of commercial fire outbreaks in Accra.
Data from the GNFS between 2010 and 2016 shows a 114% increase in commercial fire cases between n 2010 and 2016. Also, a total of 48 lives were lost between 2010 and 2016 due to commercial fires, while 42 persons were injured. Overall, Accra provides an empirically suitable setting to study urban marketplace fires for two reasons: (i) the FIRE RISK COMMUNICATION IN THE URBAN INFORMAL SECTOR s ubiquitous distribution and socioeconomic relevance of traditional marketplaces and (ii) the perennial outbreak of fires in these geographic spaces. After all, marketplace fires in the city are chronic and have implications for risk governance
Abunyewah, M., Okyere, S.A., Frimpong, L.K., Diko, S.K., Erdiaw‐Kwasie, M.O. & Boateng, V., 2022, “Fire risk communication in the urban informal sector: Evidence from traditional marketplaces in Accra, Ghana,” Risk Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, 14(4), 297–320. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions)
Conclusion
Makola Market's history reflects its vital role in Accra's commercial and socio-political landscape. Originally a small trading space, it expanded rapidly and became central to the city's economy. Despite challenges like the 1979 coup's destruction, Makola has thrived, showcasing the resilience of informal economies and the significant role of women traders. The market's evolution highlights the tension between traditional practices and modernization efforts, making it a symbol of Accra’s economic and cultural transformation.
