GNFS: High-rise buildings ban appeal misconstrued

Spokesperson for the Ghana National Fire Service Prince Billy Anaglatey has said calls by the Chief Fire Officer Dr. Albert Brown-Gaisie for a legislation to ban the construction of high-rise buildings in the country has been misconstrued.

The Chief Fire Officer Tuesday told parliament to consider promulgating laws to ban buildings that transcended six floors since the service does not have the equipment to fight fires beyond that level. He said while firefighters in other countries have tools to fight fires at 45th floors of buildings, the highest the GNFS can go is the 6th floor.

The call has, however, triggered intense public debate with some Ghanaians describing it as backward and retrogressive.

But speaking to Nii Arday Clegg on the Morning Starr Wednesday, Mr. Anaglatey said his boss has been misrepresented by the Media.

“ I honestly think the reportage has been done out of context. What the Chief Officer said was that some of those buildings fail to ensure that certain facilities are fixed in the design to make firefighting easier. They continue to flout firefighting measures and that is what the fire officer was talking about,” he stated.