Kumasi Metro Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Godwin Dela Lahor, has urged employers and institutions to organise periodic refresher training for their staff on the proper use of fire extinguishers following the devastating fire that razed the China City Mall at Santasi-Star Junction in Kumasi.
Mr. Lahor said many people are unable to use extinguishers effectively when emergencies occur, emphasising that regular drills could prevent escalation during future fire outbreaks. His appeal comes in the wake of the inferno that consumed the newly opened mall, reducing the entire structure and its goods to ashes.
“Though you have fire extinguishers, sometimes you need to be refreshing your people around how to use the extinguisher. When you train them once and think they know how to use it so you don’t refresh them, you are making a big mistake”
Godwin Dela Lahor, NADMO Kumasi Metro Coordinator
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service still working at the site. Witnesses said the flames spread quickly through the mall, overwhelming attempts to control it before firefighters arrived.
NADMO officials say their assessment of the scene showed no fatalities, though one individual sustained minor injuries amid the chaos. “The person got slightly injured because of the rush at that time,” Mr. Lahor confirmed.
He also revealed that both NADMO and the Fire Service had advised city authorities to demolish the remains of the burnt structure after identifying visible cracks that posed serious safety risks.
“That is why you see the excavators here. It is upon our advice that the mayor made sure that they bring the excavators. The building is still a threat and we don’t have to leave this place waiting for another disaster. We can’t wait for that”
Godwin Dela Lahor, NADMO Kumasi Metro Coordinator
Mr. Lahor said officials were still assessing the site to ensure no residual hazards remained, warning that the damaged structure’s instability could lead to another disaster if left standing.
NADMO Intensifies Inspections
In response to growing public concern, Mr. Lahor disclosed that NADMO would intensify safety inspections across commercial facilities in the metropolis.
“NADMO is already doing that,” he said, noting that the organisation, through the regional director, has already been conducting routine exercises in markets and business areas to identify potential risks and enforce safety compliance.
“We have been to Kejetia on three occasions, and we still plan to go back to enforce some regulations,” he added.
Mr. Lahor added that similar visits were planned for Kwadaso and other trading centres, stressing that these proactive measures form part of NADMO’s ongoing efforts to reduce disaster risks before they occur.
The Kumasi Metro Coordinator also appealed to the media to help amplify NADMO’s public education and sensitisation campaigns. He said most people associate the organisation only with emergency response, overlooking its extensive preventive and training activities throughout the year.
“We expect you to be talking to us most of the time rather than waiting for disaster periods before you ask us questions. That makes people think we only wait for disaster to occur before coming out. But there’s a lot we are doing that you people are not helping us to publicise”
Godwin Dela Lahor, NADMO Kumasi Metro Coordinator
He explained that increased media engagement would help the public appreciate NADMO’s preventive role, encouraging citizens and institutions to take preparedness seriously – which will not only help in preventing some avoidable disasters but also reduce casualties.
The Ghana Fire Service and NADMO have since cordoned off the fire scene as investigations continue. The incident has reignited debate over safety compliance in public and commercial facilities, particularly in urban centres where building inspections and emergency preparedness remain inconsistent.
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