Fire outbreaks in markets and congested areas: A failure of the Ghana National Fire Service?

Ghana has witnessed numerous avoidable fire outbreaks over the years, and 2025 is no exception. Between January and March alone, the country has experienced no fewer than 50 fire outbreaks.

Many of these fires could have been prevented if the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) revised its vision, objectives, functions, and core duties.

The Ghana National Fire Service was re-established in 1997 by Act 537 of Parliament, which set out the Service’s core functions and objectives. According to its vision, the GNFS is committed to creating safer communities by providing world-class fire protection and emergency response services to the public. The core objective outlined in Act 537 is the prevention and management of undesired fire outbreaks.

To achieve this mandate, the GNFS performs several critical functions, including:

• Organizing public fire education programs to raise awareness about the hazards of fire and the role individuals play in fire prevention.
• Offering technical advice on building plans, fire safety features, and structural layouts for effective escape, rescue operations, and fire management.
• Inspecting and providing advice on fire extinguishers.
• Coordinating the training of firefighting personnel in various institutions across the country.
• Training and organizing community-level fire volunteer squads.
• Providing rescue and evacuation services for those trapped by fire or in other emergency situations.
• Carrying out any other function related to the objectives of the service.

The core duty of the Fire Service is to prevent the destruction of properties by fire and rescue victims trapped in situations such as wells, floods, or vehicle accidents. Given its regimental nature, one would expect the GNFS to be more focused on fire prevention rather than just fire control.

Regimental institutions like the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Armed Forces are visible at strategic points, ensuring that the law is enforced to prevent problems before they escalate. For example, the Ghana Immigration Service is stationed at borders, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, while Customs tracks stolen vehicles and enforces duty collection. Similarly, the Police Service and the military patrol various regions to maintain order and security.

However, fire outbreaks in Ghana often result from well-known causes: illegal electrical connections, the use of outdated gas cylinders, fires set in congested markets, poorly equipped markets without fire extinguishers, and buildings constructed without proper planning, often on waterways. The GNFS needs to address these issues at the root by taking a more proactive approach.

Currently, many Fire Service personnel report to work and sit idle, waiting for fires to break out. They often lack the necessary logistics to patrol, educate and respond effectively, and there is little visible presence in communities. As a broadcast journalist who has covered fire outbreaks extensively, particularly in the capital city of Accra, I believe these incidents could be greatly reduced if the Fire Service revisited its mandate and shifted its focus toward fire prevention.

For instance, after the devastating fire at the Kantamanto market earlier this year, the same mistakes were repeated during the reconstruction process. Fire officials should have insisted on enforcing safety measures, but the same hazardous practices were allowed to continue—poor road access for fire tenders, improperly supervised electrical wiring, and inadequate safety provisions. The situation remains unchanged, with no significant improvements in fire prevention practices at markets that have experienced similar disasters.

It is high time the leadership of the Ghana National Fire Service changes its approach. The Service must shift from being reactive to proactive, preventing fires before they occur rather than simply responding to them once they have happened. I envision a future where fire officers are deployed daily to patrol market squares, communities, and other high-risk areas to ensure compliance with fire safety laws and building codes.

Additionally, I hope the government will fulfil its promise to adequately equip the Fire Service, similar to how the Police Service is equipped with pickups and other essential logistics. With the right measures in place, we can prevent many of these fire outbreaks and reduce the damage caused by such disasters.

Joseph Armstrong Gold-Alorgbey,Broadcast Journalist and Security Analyst

 

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