Muntaka Commissions Ghana Fire Code Committee to Overhaul Fire Safety Regulations

The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has inaugurated the Ghana Fire Code Committee to develop a comprehensive, modern and enforceable national fire code for the country. The ceremony was held in Accra under the auspices of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

In his statement, Hon. Muntaka described the initiative as one of considerable importance to the safety, security and sustainable development of the nation, noting that fire safety is fundamentally a matter of public safety and national development.

He commended GNFS for leading the process and expressed the Government’s appreciation to the World Bank and other partners for supporting the initiative.

The Minister noted that Ghana’s rapid urbanisation, economic growth and increasingly complex buildings and industrial facilities have heightened fire risks, requiring an evolved regulatory framework.

Hon. Muntaka stressed that the Code must be practical, technically sound, risk-informed and tailored to Ghana’s local conditions, construction practices, economic realities and enforcement capacity, while drawing from relevant international standards.

He said the Code should also address emerging risks from new technologies, energy systems, hazardous materials and modern construction methods and must provide clarity to reduce ambiguity among architects, engineers, developers, regulators and enforcement agencies.

He emphasised that fire safety is a shared responsibility and called for collaborative work among government institutions, regulatory bodies, professional associations, academia, industry and the public.

Hon. Muntaka expressed confidence that the Committee would deliver a Code that provides a strong and enduring foundation for fire-safety management in Ghana to protect lives, property and the environment.

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