Only five out of around 30 fire hydrants inspected in the Ministries enclave in Accra were fully functional, the Greater Accra Regional Fire Command has reported. The inspection, carried out with Ghana Water Limited, aimed to identify and fix faulty hydrants ahead of the fire season.
Two hydrants showed low water pressure, while 23 were not working at all. The exercise covered multiple government offices, including the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and the Ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, Energy, and Finance. Other locations checked were the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Health Service (GHS), National Lottery Authority (NLA), the Court Complex, and the Accra Sports Stadium.
The inspection revealed that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) did not have a fire hydrant on its premises. Regional Fire Officer ACFO II Rashid Nisawu advised the department’s management to work with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Ghana Water Limited to get one installed.
The Greater Accra Regional Fire Command said the exercise was part of a proactive effort to improve access to water during emergencies by restoring non-functional hydrants. The aim is to strengthen emergency response and protect lives and property in case of fires.
The poor state of hydrants raises questions about firefighting readiness in an area that hosts many important government institutions. Fire hydrants provide firefighters with an immediate water source to control blazes before they spread. When hydrants fail or are absent, fire crews face delays that can cost lives and property.
The inspection and repair initiative comes as the fire season approaches. It is essential that government agencies ensure their premises have working hydrants and that these hydrants provide adequate water pressure.
The Regional Fire Command has not yet disclosed a timeline for the repairs or the cost involved. The collaboration with Ghana Water Limited aims to restore as many hydrants as possible before any serious fire emergencies occur.
Accra’s Ministries enclave is a busy district where government offices and public facilities are closely packed. A fire breaking out in this area could quickly escalate without ready firefighting resources.
The revelation that only a small fraction of hydrants work properly should prompt authorities to act fast. The safety of staff, visitors, and critical government operations depends on reliable firefighting infrastructure.
ACFO II Rashid Nisawu’s call for the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to install a hydrant highlights a gap that needs urgent attention. If major government offices lack this basic safety measure, the risk of severe damage from fires increases.
As the fire season looms, the effectiveness of the Greater Accra Regional Fire Command’s efforts to restore hydrants will be tested not just by how many they fix, but by how quickly those fixes translate into real protection on the ground.
According to Joy Online.
