Enough of the rhetorics, GNFS
For some time now Ghana has lost many properties and lives through blazing fires that have gutted domestic apartments.
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It is interesting that the authorities of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have not been able to put their fingers on the exact cause of these ferocious fires.
Important buildings and facilities have been gutted by the fires, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, the residence of former President J.J. Rawlings, industrial plants and markets in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
We are informed that in the first fortnight of this year alone, 265 fire disasters have been recorded, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
There must be something wrong with our safety mechanisms at the markets, in our residences and offices. Media reports a few years ago indicated that most markets and offices did not have fire safety exits in place to deal with possible disasters.
Personnel of the GNFS have come under public attack because their fire engines arrived at fire disaster scenes without water. The service has rebutted this attack with the explanation that fire hydrants in the cities and towns have been encroached upon or were malfunctional.
Frankly speaking, the GNFS has been retooled in recent times to rise up to its mandate. Although there is room for improvement, it has enough tools now to fight fires and manage other emergencies.
By regulations, all institutions and offices have to put in place fire safety measures as part of the bigger health and safety policy. Even common and cheap fire extinguishers are non-existent in many public facilities, and where they are provided, they serve more as museum pieces than useful equipment to protect lives and property.
It is a sad commentary, though, but the reality is that there is a systemic failure in most sectors of our society, resulting in our inability to enforce rules and regulations.
The regulatory bodies — the district assemblies and the GNFS — have been provided with enough powers to police the system but they are unable to bite because of social and traditional norms of trying to be nice to all.
Anytime we are pushed to the wall by the spate of disasters, we create the impression of invoking regulations from the woodworks, whereas these regulations have been part of our statutes since we attained nationhood and even before then.
On many occasions, the GNFS has warned of prosecuting top officials of institutions that break safety regulations but these threats have remained a mere rhetoric.
Mark our words — the GNFS this time around is barking without mustering the courage to set the examples with officials who renege on ensuring the safety of their workers and properties.
The Daily Graphic thinks that the issue of safety in all spheres of national endeavour should no longer be a national joke.
The acting Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, Mr Ellis Robinson Okoe, has said the recent fires are beyond the understanding of the service, adding, “It shows the level of disrespect for fire safety measures.”
Our institutions are also required to put in place fire safety committees and train volunteers to deal with safety issues. No organisation does it and the GNFS that is clothed with enough powers to discipline errant organisations only laments the helplessness of the situation.
Ghanaians are tired of the pontification. The GNFS will be relevant only if it invokes its mandate to bite organisations, officials and individuals who have made it their habit to act with impunity. We are tired of the assurances.
The spate of fire outbreaks is unprecedented and the time to halt the canker that threatens our economy is now.