A story published by myjoyonline.com has reported that only five of about 30 fire hydrants inspected in the Ministries enclave in Accra are fully functional. The inspection was carried out by the Greater Accra Regional Fire Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), in collaboration with Ghana Water Limited (GWL), as part of efforts to identify and restore faulty hydrants ahead of the fire season.
According to the story, of the hydrants assessed, five were fully operational while two recorded low pressure. The remaining 23 were non-functional. The inspection also found that the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) had no fire hydrant on its premises.
Regional Fire Officer, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, urged CAGD management to collaborate with the GNFS and GWL to facilitate the installation of a hydrant.
The exercise covered important public institutions, including SIGA, SSNIT, the Ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, Energy and Finance, GRA, GHS, NLA, the Court Complex and the Accra Sports Stadium.
First of all, The Chronicle finds this discovery that only five of about 30 fire hydrants inspected in Accra’s Ministries enclave are fully functional shocking. This should not be treated as a routine maintenance story. It is a warning about the readiness of a vital part of the capital’s emergency-response infrastructure.
The concern is heightened by the location. The enclave houses ministries, government agencies, the Court Complex and other institutions. A fire in such an environment can escalate quickly where buildings and assets are concentrated. Reliable access to water is, therefore, not a luxury; it is a basic requirement of effective firefighting.
The latest inspection found 23 hydrants non-functional and two operating with low pressure. CAGD, meanwhile, reportedly has no hydrant on its premises. These findings demand more than assurances. They require responsibility, deadlines and verification.
There is evidence that this is not an isolated concern. In 2021, the GNFS reported that more than 550 of 1,210 hydrants identified in nine regions were not operational. In Greater Accra, 126 of 295 were reported as unserviceable. More recently, the GNFS said non-functional hydrants hampered firefighting during the June 2025 fire near the Accra Arts Centre. In August 2025, the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander also said a dry hydrant complicated the response to a fire at Madina Ritz Junction.
These incidents show why hydrant maintenance must be treated as preventive safety infrastructure, not emergency repair work. The GNFS identifies preparedness, prevention and response as central to its mission, while its Fire Safety Directorate handles inspections and risk assessment. That responsibility must be matched by coordination with GWL and dependent institutions.
Government agencies should, therefore, publish and implement a time-bound plan to repair the 23 failed hydrants, address the two low-pressure points and install the missing facility at CAGD. The system should include regular testing, public records and prompt reporting of faults.
A fire does not wait for bureaucracy to finish moving paperwork. The Ministries enclave inspection has provided an early warning. Authorities should act while the warning is still a chance to prevent a disaster, rather than wait for a fire to expose the consequences of inaction effectively.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
