24 Sep Ghana launches committee to overhaul national fire code

Ghana has established a new committee to develop a modern national fire code, with the government seeking to strengthen fire-safety regulation in response to changing risks from urbanisation, industrial growth and new technologies.

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak formally commissioned the Ghana Fire Code Committee in Accra on 17 September, placing the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at the centre of the initiative. The committee has been tasked with developing a comprehensive and enforceable framework tailored to Ghana’s operating environment.

The proposed code is expected to take account of local construction practices, economic conditions and enforcement capacity while drawing on relevant international standards. It will also need to address emerging risks associated with new technologies, energy systems, hazardous materials and modern construction methods.

Muntaka said the framework should provide greater clarity for architects, engineers, developers, regulators and enforcement agencies, helping to reduce uncertainty over fire-safety responsibilities and requirements.

The initiative comes as Ghana is already introducing changes to how fire-safety compliance is managed. Earlier this year, the GNFS launched the Automated Fire Safety Compliance System (AFCAS), a digital platform intended to replace manual and paper-based processes with online inspection coordination, compliance tracking and digital certification.

The GNFS currently operates a risk-based fire certification system, categorising projects as low, medium or high risk as part of its inspection and certification process.

The new code is intended to provide a broader regulatory foundation for fire safety, with Muntaka stressing that responsibility should be shared across government institutions, regulators, professional bodies, academia, industry and the public.

He also called for the committee’s work to be practical and technically robust rather than simply adopting international requirements without considering Ghana’s specific circumstances.

The government has expressed its appreciation to the World Bank and other partners for supporting the code-development initiative. The minister said the resulting framework should provide a long-term basis for managing fire risk and protecting lives, property and the environment.