By Samira Larbie
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has commissioned a Fire Code Development Committee to spearhead the development and review of a comprehensive national fire code to strengthen prevention, protection and emergency preparedness.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank, seeks to establish a modern, practical and risk-informed framework that responds to Ghana’s evolving fire safety challenges and development needs.
Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Minister of the Interior, who formally commissioned the Committee, said fire safety was a fundamental pillar of public safety, economic resilience and national development.
He said rapid urbanisation and modernisation had resulted in more complex buildings, industrial facilities, energy systems and commercial activities, creating new and evolving fire risks.
“It is, therefore, imperative that our fire safety framework evolves at the same pace as our national development aspirations,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka said the Ghana Fire Code should provide a coherent framework for fire prevention, fire protection, life safety and emergency preparedness, while establishing clear and enforceable standards for stakeholders involved in the design, construction, management and regulation of the built environment.
He charged the Committee to undertake its mandate with professionalism, technical excellence, impartiality and integrity, saying the final Code must be practical, evidence-based, risk-informed and responsive to Ghana’s circumstances.
“While international standards and global best practices should guide your work, the final product must be firmly grounded in the Ghanaian context and capable of effective implementation,” he said.
The Interior Minister called for broad stakeholder consultations involving government institutions, local authorities, regulatory agencies, professional bodies, industry, academia, developers, property owners and the public to ensure compliance.
He urged the Committee to resolve differences in professional opinion through evidence and informed dialogue, stressing that the adoption of the Code would not mark the end of the process.
Its effectiveness, he said, would depend on implementation, compliance, enforcement, continuous capacity building, public education and periodic review.
Alhaji Muntaka also called on citizens, community leaders, educational institutions, businesses, faith-based organisations, property owners and the media to support efforts to promote fire safety.
“Fire prevention begins with awareness and responsible behaviour,” he said, urging Ghanaians to become ambassadors of fire safety in their homes, workplaces, schools, markets and communities.
Mrs Danielle Mawusi Ntow-Sapong, Chief Fire Officer, said the review of Ghana’s fire safety framework was necessary to ensure that it remained responsive to contemporary risks and developments.
She said the process provided an opportunity for professionals and other stakeholders to bring their expertise and practical experience to bear on developing a Code that could be effectively implemented nationwide.
The Chief Fire Officer called for sustained collaboration among relevant institutions and stakeholders to ensure that the final document was technically sound and responsive to realities on the ground.
The Committee is expected to continue consultations and technical reviews towards producing a comprehensive national fire code to guide fire prevention, protection and safety management in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe