Before we question the Ghana Fire Service, let’s ask ourselves what we expect them to fight fire with

The October 1 inferno at Avenor has once again exposed a difficult but necessary conversation about the state of Ghana’s firefighting infrastructure and, more importantly, our collective attitude towards fire safety.

Whenever a major fire breaks out, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is often the first institution placed under public scrutiny. The expectation is simple: firefighters arrive, deploy their tenders, and within minutes the fire should be extinguished.

But is firefighting really that simple?

Perhaps it is time we asked ourselves what we are expecting the Ghana National Fire Service to achieve with the resources available to it.

The GNFS itself identifies adequate resources, equipment, and appliances as essential to its ability to protect lives and property.

Its mandate goes beyond simply arriving at the scene of a fire. The service is responsible for fire prevention, public education, emergency response, rescue, and fire suppression.

Yet, when we look at some of the realities confronting firefighters on the ground, the picture becomes more complicated.

At Avenor, reports indicated that firefighters faced difficulties accessing some of the affected areas because of obstructed roads and structures. The GNFS reportedly had to clear structures to create access for its equipment.

So, when a fire tender cannot get close enough to the fire, what exactly do we expect the firefighter to do?

Fly?

The tender cannot fly.

This is where the conversation must move beyond the familiar question: “What is the work of the Fire Service in this country?”

We must also ask ourselves what role we, as citizens, play in creating the conditions under which firefighters have to operate.

We construct structures on or around spaces meant to provide access for emergency services. We block roads and passages. We build in areas that were not designed for habitation. We sometimes ignore fire-safety requirements until disaster strikes.

At Avenor, for instance, reports from the scene indicated that structures obstructed firefighters’ access. A company official also said the facility’s fire hydrants were empty.

When hydrants are inaccessible or unavailable, where exactly do we expect firefighters to obtain the water needed to fight a raging blaze?

From the sea?

Of course not.

This is why fire safety cannot be the responsibility of the Fire Service alone. It is a shared responsibility involving government, local authorities, property owners, businesses, communities, and individual citizens.

The Interior Ministry has itself described fire safety as a shared responsibility and has urged Ghanaians and institutions to comply with fire-safety laws.

Retooling cannot be an afterthought.

There is also a legitimate conversation to be had about the equipment available to the Ghana National Fire Service.

In June 2025, the government acknowledged the need to replace ageing and broken-down fire vehicles and announced plans to acquire new fire tenders.

The 2026 budget subsequently provided for the procurement of 100 fire tenders and assorted fire equipment, with GH¢150 million allocated for the retooling of the Fire Service.

In May 2026, Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka also said processes were far advanced for the procurement of the 100 fire engines and other rescue equipment.

These developments are important, but the real test will be whether the equipment reaches the Service, is distributed according to operational needs, is properly maintained, and is available when emergencies occur.

Retooling the Fire Service should not be treated as a political talking point. It is an investment in lives, property and national infrastructure.

And it must go beyond fire tenders.

We need accessible hydrants and reliable water sources. We need emergency routes that remain clear. We need appropriate equipment for industrial fires, high-rise buildings and other complex emergencies. We need proper protective equipment, communication systems and continuous training.

Firefighters cannot perform magic

Perhaps the biggest change we need is a change in mindset.

When a firefighter arrives at a scene, we should not automatically assume that the fire will be extinguished simply because the GNFS has arrived.

Firefighters work under extremely dangerous conditions. They enter burning structures, confront intense heat and smoke, rescue people and animals, protect surrounding properties and, in many instances, put their own lives at risk.

The Avenor incident is a reminder that their job is not magic.

If roads are blocked, the tender cannot pass.

If hydrants are inaccessible or empty, water becomes a challenge.

If structures are built in ways that restrict emergency access, firefighters are forced to work under even more difficult conditions.

And if equipment is inadequate for the scale or nature of a particular fire, the limitations become even more obvious.

This does not mean the Fire Service should not be questioned. Institutions entrusted with public safety must be held accountable.

But accountability must be informed by reality.

If we want a Fire Service capable of responding to major fires effectively, then we must demand that government equips it properly. At the same time, we must demand that assemblies enforce planning and building regulations, that property owners comply with fire-safety requirements, and that citizens stop creating obstacles that emergency responders have to overcome.

The current leadership of the GNFS, under Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, has also been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the Service. The introduction of the Automated Fire Safety Compliance System (AFCAS), for example, is intended to modernise fire-safety inspections and compliance.

But leadership alone cannot solve every problem.

Government must provide the resources.

The Service must maintain and deploy them effectively.

Local authorities must enforce planning and safety regulations.

Businesses and property owners must comply.

And citizens must understand that fire prevention is not somebody else’s responsibility.

So, the next time a major fire breaks out and we are tempted to ask, “What is the work of the Fire Service?”, perhaps we should pause and ask another question:

What have we done as a country to give our firefighters the tools, access and conditions they need to do their work?

Because if we cannot collectively advocate for a properly equipped Ghana National Fire Service, while simultaneously contributing to the very challenges that make firefighting difficult, then our outrage after every major fire risks becoming nothing more than a cycle.

We cannot demand miracles from firefighters while denying them the conditions required to perform their duty.

Equip the Fire Service. Keep emergency routes open. Protect our hydrants. Enforce fire-safety laws. Educate the public. And take fire prevention seriously.