Fire Service to begin Fire Certificate inspection

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) will begin the enforcement of the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, L.I. 1724, on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

A statement from the GNFS said "The exercise which is to ensure public fire safety will start in the Accra metropolis and later extended to other regions of the country.

The Regulations which came into force in May 2003, make it mandatory for owners or occupiers of premises put to various uses other than private residential homes to acquire a fire certificate.

These premises include those put to use as public residential accommodation; for the purpose of entertainment, recreation, or as a club; as a place of work; as an institution providing health treatment or care for infants, disabled or aged persons; for a purpose of training, teaching or research; and for a purpose of which involves access to the premises by members of the public, whether on payment or not.

Already in place is a task force that has been moving from place to place advising owners and occupiers in affected premises on the need to acquire the certificate.