GNFS cracks down on MDAs without fire safety

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) will from today, Monday, 17 July begin a crackdown on government institutions that lack the necessary fire safety and prevention equipment.

This is to prevent frequent fire outbreaks in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as to improve the chances of survival during such outbreaks.

According to Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Albert Brown Gaisie, the exercise has become necessary after an audit revealed most public and private buildings lacked basic fire safety equipment.

Speaking to Class News, he said: “Most of the fire safety audit we conducted as of now, we realised that some of the offices also have not complied with the safety precaution. And the unfortunate situation is that when there are fires, valuable archives, government documents involving contracts, agreements and loans are burnt and under some circumstances there are no back-ups, so we are seriously concerned about that and from Monday, taskforces are going round to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to check and find out if safety audit recommendations are being implemented because the mere issue of budgetary constraints should not be a factor against damage to state property.

“Some of the precautionary measures don’t need any huge sums of money. It’s a question of being pro-active to ensure that we see to the safety at all these places.”