The Accra Regional Fire Service on Monday
embarked on the first enforcement exercise since the coming into force of the Fire Precaution Regulation in 2003 to demand for fire certificates and apply sanctions on owners whose premises have failed to comply.
The regulation requires owners of premises used for public use such as accommodation, entertainment, work, healthcare, education or research to obtain a fire certificate, as a precautionary measure.
The certificate is subject to renewal every 12 months, attracting a fee of at least one Ghana cedis depending on the size of the premises.
But four out of five institutions that the enforcement team patrolled at the North Industrial Area had not obtained the certificates.
At Mantrac, dealers in Caterpillar heavy truck vehicles, Mr John Ockan, Finance Director, told the team that the company was planning to relocate and that was the reason for the failure to comply.
He gave out documents to prove that the company had begun the certification process, but the plans for relocation halted it.
The story was no different at Dannex Ghana Limited, manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, Promasidor Ghana Limited, producers of Cowbell powdered milk and Victory Hotel, also at Avenor.
They had all obtained the forms, but had delayed in obtaining the certificates. They were given two weeks ultimatum to do so or have their premises closed.
The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the Service, Mr Kru Agyarko-Attobrah, told newsmen that the Service had in the past five years applied a human face in ensuring compliance, but the attempt had not been successful.
He said the Service had also educated the public on the regulation and served letters personally to those liable, but this had also proved futile.
"We have given them more than enough time and now the time has come for us to enforce compliance. What we are doing is in the public interest; we are doing this for their own safety."
Mr. Agyarko-Attobrah said the Service was aware of public complaints often criticizing fire officers for not responding quickly to emergencies, but the disregard for precautionary measures were rather to be blamed.
He therefore warned all owners of premises who had failed to obtain the certificates to do so, or risk having their premises closed down or face other sanctions such as the payment of a fine or imprisonment.
The Regional Commander expressed the hope that the ongoing exercise would ensure more compliance to help reduce fire outbreak in the country.
Ghana records about 2,000 fire outbreaks every year, leading to the loss of lives and damage of properties worth million of Ghana cedis.