NIC takes hard line on fire insurance

The National Insurance Commission (NIC) Taskforce on Compulsory Fire Insurance has embarked on an exercise to enforce compulsory insurance of private commercial buildings in the Tamale Metropolis.

The Private Commercial Building Insurance Law, Act 724, 2006, makes it mandatory for commercial buildings both completed and under construction to be covered by an insurance policy.

The national Taskforce on compulsory fire insurance was inaugurated in October 2014 to enforce section 183 and 184 of the insurance law in compulsory insurance of Private commercial buildings.

It came also as a result of inauguration of the National Task Force for Compulsory Insurance of the NIC to create awareness for the general public on the need to have their properties insured.

The operation by the taskforce revealed that many companies do not have fire certificates and insurance, while those of others had expired.

This, according to the Commission, poses threats to individuals who pass by or even patronise their buildings.

The first day of exercise saw the arrest of some private companies such as OG Investment Ghana, Kanawu Plaza, Nasant Ventures, Wadji Lodge,Wemah Guest House, Fatih College, Gods Care Family Hospital among others, with the property owners being made to sign a bond to comply with insurance law.

The Compulsory Fire Insurance has been designed to cover the legal liabilities of owners or occupiers of commercial buildings or vehicles in respect of bodily injury to users and third parties, loss of life or death suffered by users and third parties, and damage to property belonging to users and members of the public.

The taskforce is responsible for the arrest and prosecution of offenders to ensure compliance.

Speaking to media after the first operation, chairman of the Task Force Mr. Joseph Bentor said the law makes it compulsory for all commercial buildings, including those under construction and completed, to be insured against fire.

According to Mr. Bentor, it is therefore an offence for any person to fail to insure his/her commercial building, assuring that: “Such people will be prosecuted when found culpable”.

He said that the exercise has already taken place in Accra and Team and will be carried out throughout the country, which is why the Commission has opened offices in all the region to ensure regular monitoring of all commercial building.

The Northern Regional Assistant Divisional Fire Officer (ADO), Paulina Jatuat, bemoaned the fact that most buildings in the Metropolis are not insured but are being used for commercial business.

ADO Jatuat said the unit has since this year issued only 150 fire certificates for the numerous commercial buildings in the Metropolis.

She stressed that the unit does not issue fire safety certificates to persons with no insurance certificate.

She reiterated the unit’s commitment to continue educating the public on the process to follow in acquiring the fire certificate.