The Head of the Fire Safety Department of the Northern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service, DOI Jemima Musah, has urged the general public to acquire fire certificates for their premises and business facilities.
Speaking to the media after a two-day workshop organized for Metropolitan, municipal, and District Fire officers, Safety officers and some sectional heads at the Northern regional headquarters.
She said this would help safeguard properties and businesses, as well as ensure the safety of workers and clients against fire-related disasters.
According to her, before a facility is granted a fire certificate, an inspection is done to ensure it meets the required criteria or safety standards.
Outlining the specific items or equipment a facility or premise would need to meet the requirement, she listed fire alarms, smoke detectors, water sprinklers, and extinguishers.
She was quick to add that the acquisition of the fire certificate is not free and that one would have to pay a fee before their premise or business facility is granted the fire certificate.
DOI Jemima Musah underscores the importance of the exercise, adding that the exercise is backed by an act of parliament, LI 1724, which mandates every premise or business facility to acquire a fire certificate.
According to her, the Legislative Instrument (LI) empowers the Service to close down premises or business facilities that fail to acquire the fire certificate.
She, however, implores the general public to see it as a need to apply for the certificate; they are those whose properties would be safeguarded in the long run.
She further stressed that without the fire certificate, no insurance company will risk insuring a premises or business.
The training was to equip and build the capacity of participants to discharge their duties effectively.
The safety officers are expected to go to their various districts to conduct fire safety inspection on premises requiring fire certificates and also ensure that property owners or occupants comply with LI 1724
