The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has announced an intensified fire prevention education campaign aimed at safeguarding lives and property throughout the country.
The announcement was made by Albert Alalzuuga, Deputy Director‑General of NADMO, during a sensitization exercise for management and staff of the organization held in Kumasi on Monday,December 1, 2025.
The event underscored NADMO’s strategy to maximize its workforce and broaden community engagement in fire‑outbreak mitigation.
In his address, Mr. Alalzuuga disclosed that NADMO is embarking on a drive to “maximize workforce” by significantly increasing its membership through the recruitment and training of volunteers. These volunteers, he explained, will be equipped by fire‑prevention experts to provide support in curbing fire outbreaks in market places, shops, and homes. “It’s incumbent upon us to increase the number of membership through volunteers being trained by experts to help prevent fire outbreaks in the various market places and homes,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a well‑mobilized, community‑based frontline response system.
The Deputy Director‑General stressed that reliance on government support alone is insufficient to address the escalating incidence of fires in Ghana. “Depending on the government support alone would not save the situation; it needs everyone’s support to complement government efforts in the fight against fire outbreaks in the country,” Alalzuuga asserted. He lamented the negligence exhibited by some Ghanaians who engage unprofessional electricians and resort to cooking on naked flames within shops and market centers — practices he identified as major contributing factors to most fire outbreaks.
In light of these concerns, Mr. Alalzuuga advised the general public to exercise heightened caution.
He urged citizens to desist from cooking at market centers and shops, highlighting the grave risks posed by such behavior. Additionally, he called for the exclusive use of qualified, professional, and certified electricians for all electrical installations and repairs, as substandard work often precipitates fire hazards. “Be cautious and stop cooking at the market centers and shops while using qualify, professional and certify electricians to help prevent most fire outbreaks to safe lives and properties,” he counseled.
The sensitization exercise in Kumasi served as a platform for NADMO staff to re‑affirm their commitment to fire prevention and to align their operational strategies with the newly intensified education drive. Participants engaged in discussions on effective community outreach methods, rapid response coordination, and the integration of trained volunteers into existing fire‑prevention frameworks. The initiative is expected to extend to other regions, with a focus on high‑risk areas such as commercial hubs, timber markets, and densely populated residential zones.
NADMO’s intensified fire prevention education campaign reflects a proactive shift towards a collaborative model that leverages both state resources and citizen participation. By empowering communities with volunteers and enforcing stricter adherence to safety practices such as proper electrical installation and banning cooking in commercial premises, NADMO aims to significantly reduce fire incidents and their devastating impacts.
The organization’s leadership reiterated its appeal to all stakeholders — including market associations, transport unions, and individual citizens — to view fire prevention as a shared responsibility. NADMO pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely, scaling up its public education efforts, and working hand‑in‑hand with fire services and local authorities to ensure a safer environment for all Ghanaians.
