The fire incidents included both residential and non-residential fires
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) recorded a total of 5,585 fire outbreaks between January and November 2025, Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong has disclosed.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, January 11, 2026, she said the incidents included both residential and non-residential fires, as well as fires that occurred in markets across the country.
“From January to November, we have recorded 5,585 fires; both residential and non-residential fires, including market fires,” she indicated.
The figure represents a slight decline compared to the same period in 2024, when 5,596 fire outbreaks were recorded nationwide.
Commenting on the causes of the frequent fire incidents, Daniella Ntow Sarpong attributed the situation largely to negligence on the part of citizens, stressing that many of the fires are preventable.
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“I will say it is negligence on the part of the citizenry because there are things that are preventable. We don’t wait for it to occur before we try to manage it. So, the negligence is too much on the part of the citizenry,” she stated.
She further expressed concern about unsafe practices in markets, particularly the widespread use of gas cylinders, noting that market managers have not done enough to enforce safety standards.
“You advise them, they don’t take it. You go to the market, and they are using cylinders all over, and the market managers are not also helping,” she stressed.
The Chief Fire Officer urged Ghanaians to be more safety conscious and vigilant about potential fire hazards in their homes, workplaces and public spaces.
She also warned that beginning this year, the GNFS will intensify enforcement actions against property owners who fail to seek mandatory inspection and fire safety certification from the service.
MRA/AE
Meanwhile, watch as NDC MPs and party leadership pay tribute to late Naser Toure Mahama
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
