The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that the China City Mall in Kumasi, which opened to the public just six months ago, was operating without meeting all essential fire safety requirements.
According to the GNFS, the facility did not have a fire hydrant or an alternative water supply system such as a mechanized borehole — both of which are mandatory under the country’s fire safety regulations.
Divisional Officer II and Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, Desmond E. Ackah, told journalists that the absence of these systems made it difficult to control the recent fire outbreak at the mall, allowing the flames to spread rapidly.
He explained that management of the mall had been informed about the need to install a hydrant or create a reliable water storage system, but the directive had not yet been fulfilled. “The fire could have been contained much earlier if the mall had a proper water system in place,” he said.
When questioned about why the mall was allowed to operate without meeting such basic safety standards, Mr. Ackah noted that the facility had been in operation for only six months and was still in the process of meeting its full fire safety obligations.
“They were asked to provide either a fire hydrant or a mechanized water system. But because such installations are capital-intensive, management might have delayed implementing them. Once an establishment meets the minimum safety requirements, it is allowed to operate, but compliance is meant to be progressive,” he explained.
However, Mr. Ackah later emphasized that the incident underscored the urgent need for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations across all public and commercial spaces. He noted that such tragedies could be avoided if institutions adhered fully to fire safety standards before beginning operations.
He also condemned sections of the public who reportedly obstructed fire officers during the firefighting operation, describing their actions as unhelpful and dangerous.