Parliament express
concern about safety in buildings
"It appears our engineers are designing and putting up structures in our cities without the appropriate authority considering how to manage disasters when they strike such buildings".
Dankwa Wiafe
in statement in Parliament on Wednesday on "high rise buildings and the
preparedness of the National Fire Service in any eventuality," said
buildings that were out of reach of the Fire Service in terms of equipment
could be disastrous in any eventuality, particularly in
Wiafe said it appeared that "our engineers are designing and putting up structures in our cities without the appropriate authority considering how to manage disasters when they strike such buildings".
He said construction of modern tall buildings in
He said since very tall buildings are springing up in the cities, every builder and occupier of such tall buildings should find out if they were constructed in compliance with safety measures, could occupants be evacuated in a disaster and whether the buildings were accessible.
Wiafe's recommended that for an improvement of fire disaster management, the Fire Service must be equipped with patrol helicopters to locate fire outbreaks and trained to use the aircraft in rescue operations in tall buildings during disasters.
The Fire Service must be given the power to enter into premises to enforce safety regulations, must have an Inspectorate Division to inspect and enforce safety regulations and be given the legal backing to prosecute offenders of safety regulations.
Ofosu Asamoah, NPP-Kade said it was regrettable that most fire hydrants had been destroyed while water tankers use them for their commercial use.
He called for measures to protect fire hydrants and asked the Fire Service and the relevant Ministry to ensure the Service was adequately equipped.
Kwakye Addo, NDC- Afram Plains South said every public building must be provided with a fire hydrant. Joseph Darko - Mensah, NPP - Okaikwei North disagreed with the concerns of the statement and said the Fire Service had the requisite equipment to fight and prevent fire outbreaks even in tall buildings.
Daniel Tekpertey, NDC- Yilo Krobo said the government should do more to save lives and property by creating public awareness on the need to stop the haphazard construction of buildings.
Stephen Balado Manu, NPP - Ahafo Ano South said even though there was the need to put up high rise buildings to maximise land use it was necessary that safety measures were put in place to protect lives and property.
He said with the extensive rural electrification programme, Fire Service stations must be opened in district capitals while mechanisms were put in place to detect fire outbreaks in buildings.
Kosi Kedem, NDC- Hohoe South said the statement failed to consider the plight of the physically challenged in the society in the designing and construction of public buildings.
He said access to public buildings by the disabled should be
considered so as not to unnecessarily discomfort them. George Amoo, NPP- Ayawaso West Wougon said traffic management especially in
He said there was the need for district planning committees and District assemblies to ensure that all permits for buildings are screened and monitored before they are signed.
Amoo said most cars do not have fire extinguishers while the materials in the Parliament House were susceptible to fire while the House also was without adequate access facilities.
Ernest Attuquaye Armah, NDC - Ga South said most structures especially in Accra were not covered with building permits, adding that, there were few Building Inspectors to monitor the high rate of construction.
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