Employees of GCB Bank PLC have partnered with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to provide fire prevention and emergency response training to traders across some of Accra’s busiest commercial areas, including Circle, Okaishie, Liberty House, Kantamanto and Tip Toe Lane.
The intervention, which also included the donation of fire extinguishers to market leaders and the establishment of 20 Market Fire Safety Champions, forms part of 95 community projects being undertaken nationwide through GCB’s 2026 Staff Community Impact Programme (SCIP) aimed at impacting one million Ghanaians.
The project was led by employees from GCB Bank’s Liberty House, Okaishie and Circle branches, who identified fire safety as a pressing concern for traders whose livelihoods depend on the safety of their shops, stalls and merchandise.
The campaign was developed in response to the recurring threat of market fires in the targeted communities.
Recent incidents at Kantamanto and Tip Toe Lane have caused significant damage to stalls and merchandise, with the effects extending beyond individual traders to the families and communities that depend on their businesses.
Working with the GNFS, the GCB team organised practical fire safety sessions to help traders recognise common fire hazards, respond appropriately during emergencies and adopt safer practices in their businesses. Fire extinguishers were also presented to market leaders to strengthen the ability of traders to respond quickly when a fire starts.
The intervention goes beyond a single training exercise. As part of the initiative, 20 Market Fire Safety Champions have been established across the targeted market areas. The champions will help keep fire prevention conversations going, identify potential hazards and encourage traders and other market users to adopt safer practices.
Speaking about the wider initiative, the Chief Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Officer of GCB Bank, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, said the programme allows employees to connect the Bank’s CSR efforts with issues that directly affect the wellbeing and livelihoods of people in their communities.
“Social impact is strongest when it responds to issues people are facing in their everyday lives. Through SCIP, our employees are able to recognise those concerns, work with the right partners and contribute practical solutions. This fire safety initiative shows how CSR can support both livelihoods and community safety in a very direct way,” she said.
The Accra Central Zonal Manager of GCB Bank, Juliet Onny, said the decision to focus on fire safety was informed by the vulnerability of the commercial communities around the Bank’s branches.
“We know how much traders invest in their businesses and how devastating it can be when a fire destroys what they have built over the years. We therefore wanted to focus on prevention and preparedness, giving traders practical knowledge and some of the tools they need to respond quickly when there is a fire,” she said.
A representative of the Ghana National Fire Service, DOIII Caleb Allison, said traders have an important role to play in reducing the risk and impact of market fires.
“Fire safety starts with awareness. When people understand the common causes of fires and know what to do when they detect one, they are in a much better position to protect lives and property. We encourage traders to take the training seriously, identify hazards around their businesses and always keep emergency access routes clear. Early action can make a significant difference,” he said.
The GNFS welcomed the partnership with GCB Bank and encouraged market leaders and traders to treat fire prevention as an ongoing responsibility rather than an activity limited to the campaign.
The Fire Shield Market Protection Initiative is the seventh of the 95 SCIP projects being implemented by GCB Bank employees across Ghana.
