By Sarah Baafi
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is set to begin a nationwide enforcement exercise today, December 18, 2025, to ensure that all vehicles on the country’s roads are equipped with functional, certified fire extinguishers.
The operation will be led by the GNFS Fire Safety Compliance Taskforce in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service.
The dedicated taskforce will conduct on-the-spot checks on vehicles, issue certification tags for effective extinguishers, and provide technical guidance in line with section 4(c) of the Ghana National Fire Service Act, 1997 (Act 537).
As part of the exercise, the GNFS will engage transport unions and associations nationwide to reinforce the responsibility of drivers and vehicle owners to carry at least one GNFS-certified or embossed portable fire extinguisher in every vehicle.
They are also expected to ensure that extinguishers are serviceable by checking the pressure gauge, expiry dates and tamper seals, and by mounting the devices securely in accessible positions.
Drivers will additionally be encouraged to learn the safe use of portable extinguishers and to keep other critical safety items, such as a warning triangle and a first-aid kit, on board. The Service stressed that in the event of a vehicle fire, “every second counts,” and that a working, easily reachable extinguisher can be the difference between a minor incident and a major tragedy.
The GNFS reiterated its commitment to improving road safety through intensified public education on vehicular fire prevention and strict enforcement of fire safety regulations across the country.
