Takoradi Hotels Closed Down

THE GHANA National Fire Service (GNFS) on Monday sealed off eight hotels in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis following their inability to meet certain fire safety regulations in their premises.

Though almost all management staff in the hotels protested against the action, the combined team of fire service personnel and police led by Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Joseph Hope Tamakloe, Operations Officer of the Western Regional Fire Command said that the hoteliers had been impervious to advice for a long time.

Occupants of the hotels were made to check out of the premises with their luggage, while the workers were asked to go home until the proprietors complied with the required fire safety standards.

Two gas installations in Takoradi, GOIL and Tropic Gas, were also closed down by the operations team for non-compliance with fire safety regulations.

The other hotels closed down were Takoradi Beach Hotel owned by Dr. J. A. Addison; African Beach Hotel; Raybow Hotel; Peak Lodge; Hillcrest Hotel; Animens Hotel and Lagoon Side Hotel in Sekondi, which have all been earmarked to host officials and players for the CAN 2008 Soccer Tournament.

He said the GNFS had met with the hoteliers and advised them to ensure that their premises meet the fire precaution regulations of 2003 contained in Legislative Instrument 1724 of the GNFS, but they had blatantly refused to respond appropriately.

ADO Tamakloe noted that most of the premises either did not have fire alarms and other effective warning devices, or had inadequate fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Others also had no proper escape routes in case of fire outbreak.

According to Divisional Officer (DO) III, Roberta Aggrey-Ghanson, Western Regional Safety Officer of the GNFS, the eight hotels which had been closed down were supposed to have Fire Certificates approved by the service.

She said it was unfortunate that some of them had not furnished the service with the height of their buildings, the running distance to safety in case of fire, number of persons expected to be working or living at the premises, the size and suitability of doors and distinct markings on emergency exits, among others.

DO III Aggrey-Ghanson made it clear that should the hotels meet even 75 percent of the service's safety standards, they could be considered safe for hosting players and officials of the tournament, adding, “We don't want our visitors to have any negative memories should there be any adversity.

” Earlier at a press briefing, the Western Regional Fire Commander, Nana Ekow Abban said his outfit would enforce safety compliance at the Essipong Sports Stadium and places of accommodation.

“As we roll into the yuletide activities and Ghana CAN 2008 fiesta in the region, the Regional Fire Command will ensure that L.I. 1724 is vigorously enforced to maintain safe celebration,” he stressed.

He said the stubbornness on the part of hoteliers compelled the service to sanction defaulters, adding, “We have moved to be more proactive than reactive. I must put on record that I have handled this issue with a lot of human face.”

He wondered why the games venue, Essipong Sports Stadium had already applied for a fire certificate to ensure total compliance, whereas the hotels where the teams would lodge still had no fire coverage certificate.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Abban affirmed that the service would not want a situation where some foreign teams would protest about the safety of their lodging places thereby embarrassing the region and Ghana as a result of poor safety coverage.

An executive member of the hoteliers association, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity, said they would do everything to meet the fire precaution regulations of the GNFS very soon because they could not afford to lose the dollars which would be paid to them at the end of the soccer tournament.

From Sam Mark Essien, Takoradi