Ghana National Fire Service Launches Fire Safety Education Initiative for Market Traders

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has kicked off a campaign to educate traders and other market stakeholders on essential fire safety measures.

The initiative, which began on Friday, January 18 at the Adidome Market, aims to raise awareness on fire prevention and response strategies.

Led by Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO 1), George Lumorvi, the GNFS team conducted training sessions covering topics such as the safe handling of domestic gas cylinders, common causes of fire, fire classes and extinguishing methods, and emergency contact numbers.

The team also stressed the importance of establishing a volunteer task force within markets and hiring certified electricians for electrical installations to reduce the risk of fires.

This educational exercise will be expanded to other markets in the district, including Mafi Kumase.

However, the GNFS Adidome Command is facing a significant challenge: the absence of fire hydrants at strategic locations in the district, which impedes effective firefighting operations.

ADO Lumorvi appealed to the government for support in addressing the fire hydrant issue, highlighting its importance for effective firefighting capabilities. He also called for community cooperation to assist the GNFS in its fire prevention and response efforts.

Mr. Guggisberg Fiagbenu, the Assembly Member for the Adidome Electoral Area, encouraged the youth in Central Tongu to participate in voluntary fire-fighting training with the District Fire Command.

This, he said, would equip young people with basic firefighting knowledge and enable them to take preventive action in case of fire outbreaks. He also committed to working with the fire service and the education directorate to establish fire cadet programs in local schools.

This initiative is part of the GNFS’s broader efforts to strengthen fire safety education in markets across the country, especially following a series of recent fire incidents in some regions. The GNFS is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fire outbreaks and raising awareness about fire safety among traders and market stakeholders.

The session was well attended by traders, community leaders, and other stakeholders, all of whom expressed their gratitude for the initiative and pledged to support the GNFS in its efforts to promote fire safety.