Timber firms in court for not adhering to fire regulations

Akim Oda (E/R), Sept. 11 GNA - Two timber firms and a school at Akim Oda have appeared before the Oda Magistrate Court in the Eastern Region for failing to adhere to fire precautionary regulations. They are the East Forest Products Limited, the Birim Wood Complex Limited, and the Joduro Integrated Schools (JIS). The court presided over by Mr Albert Annor ordered that a bench warrant be issued for the arrest of Joe Oduro, owner of JIS for failing to appear in court that day.

The presiding judge also refused to take the plea of a mechanic, who represented the East Forest Complex Ltd and threatened to remand him, but was later admitted to a GH¢500 bail, with a surety to justify and would reappear on September 16. The management of Birim Wood Complex Ltd would also reappear on September 29 this year but pleaded leniency with the court saying it had paid a total of GH¢525 including a fine to the court registry before its appearance.

Presenting the facts, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Station Officer Ransford Ababio Aikins, told the court that an inspection conducted by the Service revealed that none of the above companies had acquired fire certificates.

He stated that they also failed to acquire warning systems including smoke detectors, fire alarms and other precautionary measures. The fire officer, who is also the Municipal P.R.O. for the Service, drew the court's attention to the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1724 and explained that the law empowered the GNFS to ensure that firms were fully equipped and followed measures that regulated their operations in respect of fire out break. In the case of the Birim Wood Complex Ltd, he said, the company submitted a fire engineering drawing and a write-up on its premises towards the acquisition of a fire certificate. Based on the fire plan submitted, he said, the GNFS issued a bill of GH¢2,964 to be paid to government, but since May 2007, the Birim Wood Complex had not made any effort to settle the amount. The Joduro Integrated school, he said also has no precautionary measures and a fire certificate. 11 Sept. 08