Fire Service threatens arrest of artisans at Tema roundabout

Mr Paul Enyonam Tamakloe, Tema Regional Fire Officer has threatened to arrest artisans undertaking the installation of gas cylinders in vehicles at the Tema General Hospital roundabout. Mr Tamakloe said the artisans have defied a quit order by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to vacate the area because they have ignored fire regulations governing their activities, which poses a threat to lives and properties. He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema over the weekend that the activities of the artisans operating near a welding shop could lead to a major fire outbreak in the Municipality as they fill the cylinders with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) after the installation. He said companies, hotels; restaurants, fuel stations and other workshops were required to obtain a fire certificate in compliance with the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, 2003, Legislative Instrument (LI) 1724. "The LI requires premises such as public residential accommodations, factories, shops, offices, banks, cafes, hospitals, orphanages, remand homes, community homes, mental health clinics and others, to obtain fire certificates to ensure accepted fire safety measures", he said. Mr Tamakloe warned that his outfit would not hesitate to cause the arrest and prosecution of any body who defies the LI and operate without a fire certificate. He said last year, the GNFS closed down a number of companies, which were operating without a fire certificate through out the nation. "I am therefore cautioning all companies operating without a fire certificate to regularize their operations before we start closing down the premises of offenders", Mr Tamakloe stressed.