Kumasi, Dec. 28, GNA - The Ashanti Region recorded 571 fires leading to the loss of property worth about 41 billion cedis from January to November 2005. Mr Obeng Darkwa-Dwamena, Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, who announced this, attributed most of the outbreaks to inadequate fire prevention, precaution, defection and warning systems in many premises. Speaking at the presentation of certificates to seven organizations in Kumasi on Wednesday after the inspection of their premises, he said the service has embarked on educating the public to be circumspect in handling electrical gadgets so as to prevent fires. He said the personnel of the service had gone to schools, markets, industries, churches and other public organizations to educate the public on fire prevention.

The organizations who received the certificates were Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited, Amansie West Rural Bank Limited, Wood Pillar Company Limited, Sinapi Aba Opportunities Trust Limited, Queens Gate Restaurant, Damusa Travel and Tours Limited and Unity Oil Limited. Mr Darkwa Dwamena said the Fire Precaution Regulation which was passed in 2003, makes it mandatory for all owners of existing hotels, cinema houses, fuel and gas stations, conference halls, laboratories, offices and business concerns to put in place safety measures such as fire alarms, sounders, smoke and heat detectors, sprinklers systems, among others to save lives and property. He commended the Amansie West Rural Bank for their efforts at securing fire certificate for all their branches in the region.

Mr. Asiedu Opoku, Kumasi Metropolitan Town and Country Planning Director, said effective and efficient fire prevention and control depended largely on the sound implementation of approved planning schemes or layouts of towns and cities. He said there was the need for close collaboration between city and town planners and managers to ensure that they functioned smoothly and therefore called for urgent cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary approach to city planning and development among all stakeholders.