23 fire hydrants non-functional at Ministries enclave - GNFS

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has identified 23 non-functional fire hydrants at the Ministries enclave in Accra following an inspection conducted by the Greater Accra Regional Fire Command in collaboration with Ghana Water Limited (GWL).

The exercise, aimed at strengthening firefighting preparedness, identified about 30 fire hydrants within the enclave.

According to the GNFS in a Facebook post on September 26, only five hydrants were fully functional and recorded high water pressure, while two others had low water pressure.

The remaining 23 hydrants were found to be non-functional, raising concerns about access to adequate water supplies during fire emergencies.

The inspection team also discovered that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) had no fire hydrant on its premises.

Greater Regional Fire Officer, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, advised the management of CAGD to collaborate with the GNFS and Ghana Water Limited to facilitate the installation of a fire hydrant at the facility.

The inspection covered several government institutions within the Ministries enclave and surrounding areas, including the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, Energy and Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Health Service (GHS), National Lottery Authority (NLA), the Court Complex and the Accra Sports Stadium.

The GNFS said the exercise forms part of a proactive initiative to identify, repair and restore non-functional fire hydrants ahead of the fire season.

The Service said restoring the hydrants would improve emergency response capabilities and help protect lives and property in the event of fire outbreaks.