The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has launched a nationwide operation to enforce vehicle fire-safety standards, in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Police Service.
According to a press release signed by the Head of Public Relations, Division Officer II (DO II) Desmond E. Ackah, the GNFS Fire Safety Compliance Taskforce will conduct on-site fire-safety checks on vehicles.
Certification tags will also be issued for vehicles that meet the extinguisher requirements, and provide technical advice on fire-extinguisher use and compliance.
The initiative aims to ensure every vehicle on Ghanaian roads is equipped with a functional, easily accessible, GNFS-certified removable portable fire extinguisher.
The taskforce will conduct on-site fire-safety checks on vehicles, issue GNFS certification tags for vehicles that meet the extinguisher requirements, and provide technical advice on fire-extinguisher use and compliance under Section 4C of the Ghana National Fire Service Act, 1997 (Act 537).
The Service also plans to distribute free portable fire extinguishers to drivers and vehicle owners nationwide to improve road safety.
They will procure and supply at least one functional fire extinguisher certified by the GNFS, ensure extinguishers are serviceable, and mount GNFS-certified embedded fire extinguishers securely in vehicles and train drivers on their safe use.
The GNFS encourages drivers to keep other essential safety items such as a warning triangle and a first-aid kit on board.
The Fire Service emphasized that having a certified, working fire extinguisher can make the difference between a minor incident and a tragic loss when fire breaks out in a vehicle.
As the lead agency for fire prevention and public safety, the GNFS says it remains committed to enhancing road safety in Ghana through intensified public education on vehicle fire prevention and fire-extinguisher maintenance.
