By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed that the China City Mall in Kumasi, which began its public operations six months ago, lacks some basic fire safety requirements.
According to the GNFS, the Kumasi China City Mall did not have a fire hydrant or an alternative water storage system like a mechanised borehole, which is a basic requirement.
Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, Divisional Officer (DO II) Desmond E. Ackah, speaking in an interview with journalists, maintained that the absence of these critical safety facilities contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Although the management of the mall was expected to provide a fire hydrant or an alternative water storage system, this had not yet been done. The fire could have been contained earlier if the mall had the proper water systems in place. He stressed
When asked why management of the mall was allowed to operate such a facility without meeting such basic firefighting requirements, Mr. Ackah was quick to explain that the mall had been operating for only six months and was still in the process of meeting some safety requirements.
“They were going to be asked to get a fire hydrant or an alternative water storage. But that has not been done. Like I said, they opened just six months ago. Some of these things are capital-intensive, and probably that is why they haven’t done that before starting operation.
Once you meet the basic fire safety requirements, you are permitted to start operation. But the requirement is such that it is progressive, so you move from the less costly one to the high costly one,” he defended his out and the management of the mall.
Mr. Ackah, in a sharp contradiction to his earlier claim that meeting basic fire safety requirements was progressive, said the incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards and greater public awareness of emergency response protocols.
He also criticised sections of the public who obstructed fire personnel during the operation.
