By Kingsley Webora TANKEH
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has launched the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS), a digital platform designed to transform fire safety regulation, moving away from manual, paper-based processes into a technology-driven compliance regime.
The system, unveiled at a ceremony in Accra, will replace the manual and lengthy inspection procedures with real-time monitoring and digital certification, streamlining interactions between fire safety officers and the public.
AFCAS will enable the GNFS to monitor compliance in real time and identify high-risk facilities before incidents occur. It will introduce tagging mechanisms to track imported equipment against international standards and provide 24-hour surveillance consoles for institutions wishing to improve response times through direct alerts to fire emergency responders.
Speaking at the launch, Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka said AFCAS forms part of a broader strategy to improve public safety delivery while making interactions with government institutions more efficient. He expressed government’s commitment to this digitalisation agenda, noting that the Ministry of Interior now offers 18 services through its online portal.
“This initiative aligns strongly with the broader government policy of leveraging technology and innovation to make doing business easier, reduce logistical difficulties, and guarantee the security of investment in Ghana,” the Minister said, noting “a predictable, transparent, and efficient regulatory environment is essential for attracting and retaining both local and foreign investment.”
However, the Minister warned GNFS personnel not to sabotage the implementation of the system because it would reduce discretion in the process and ensure traceability.
“Let me state clearly that any officer who engages in an act that undermines or compromises the integrity of AFCAS implementation will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures and, where applicable, prosecution in accordance with our law,” he cautioned.
Mr. Muntaka stressed that fire safety is a shared civic responsibility, calling on property owners, developers, businesses, and the public to fully embrace the new system. He emphasised that the “success of the system will depend on us. Let us help make sure that this occasion is not an occasion of showing regrets for all of us.”
However, he confirmed that the government has initiated procurement processes for new fire tenders and directed that personnel rental allowances be paid with their salaries.
The Chief Fire Officer of GNFS, Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong said the system will revolutionise how the service operates, improve service delivery and efficiency
“Before AFCAS, fire safety compliance in Ghana was largely manual, fragmented and time-consuming. Processes were paper-based. Inspections were difficult to track. Turnaround time was long and both the public and the service faced avoidable frustrations,” she said. “Today, with the launch of AFCAS, we stand at a turning point. AFCAS represents where we are now: a fire service that is embracing technology, innovation and partnership to deliver faster, transparent, standardized and accountable fire safety and compliance systems.”
AFCAS will also introduce several new features aimed at strengthening fire prevention. These include thermal imaging assessments of electrical systems to generate reports on facility safety, certification of fire ratings for imported materials, and mandatory training requirements for personnel before fire certificates are issued.
A vehicle extinguisher tracking system will link serial numbers of extinguishers to specific vehicle chassis numbers, preventing people from using a single extinguisher to cover multiple vehicles. Beyond this, AFCAS is expected to create a structured revenue stream for the GNFS, reducing reliance on government funding. “This will significantly reduce over-dependency and over-stretching of government subventions and enable us to reinvest into our core mandate,” Mrs Ntow Sarpong explained.
Mrs Ntow Sarpong therefore assured the public of the service’s commitment to full nationwide implementation of the system, stating the goal is to position the GNFS as a modern public safety institution equipped with rapid intervention vehicles, fire engines, and advanced rescue equipment.
The post Fire safety modernisation gets major boost as GNFS unveils AFCAS appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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