The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has sounded the alarm over the rapid expansion of slum settlements in urban centers, cautioning that these densely populated and poorly regulated areas are increasingly vulnerable to fire outbreaks.
This warning comes in the aftermath of a major fire at the Sakumono-Asoprochona Railway enclave on May 5, which destroyed numerous homes and left many residents displaced.
Divisional Officer Grade 2 Desmond Essoun Ackah, Head of Public Relations at the GNFS, attributed the growing fire risk in such communities to factors including negligence, unsafe use of open flames, and widespread illegal electrical connections.
“These communities are typically home to low-income earners. As a service, we’ve tried to engage them, educate them on fire safety, and stress the importance of taking personal responsibility,” Ackah noted. “However, negligence remains a major issue, and illegal wiring—such as the use of exposed wires—is common, which significantly raises the fire risk.”
Ackah called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to take urgent steps to curb the unregulated development of slum settlements and to prioritize the provision of safer housing alternatives.
“If authorities can intervene early—either by preventing the growth of slums or by providing better accommodation options for these residents—it could greatly reduce the occurrence of such destructive fires,” he emphasized.
