Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, the Minister for Interior, has reiterated the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve fire safety regulation and enhance public protection.

He was speaking at the launch of the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS), a digital platform designed to transform fire safety regulation and improve service delivery nationwide.

The Minister described AFCAS as a modern transition from manual, fragmented fire safety compliance processes to a digital, standardised, technology-driven regulatory regime.

He said the system would well position the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to streamline inspections, reduce turnaround time, and improve service delivery across homes, businesses, factories, offices, and public institutions.

Mr. Mohammed said the initiative aligns with the Government’s broader policy to use technology and innovation to make doing business easier, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and create a transparent, efficient environment to attract and secure investments in the country.

“A predictable, transparent, and efficient regulatory environment is essential for attracting and retaining both local and foreign investment, and AFCAS supports this objective,” he stated.

He further noted that beyond improving operational efficiency, the system will serve as a preventive public safety tool that would enable the GNFS to monitor compliance in real time, identify high-risk facilities early, and take proactive measures to prevent fire outbreaks before they occur.

According to the Minister, the platform would also strengthen inspection planning and generate reliable data to support evidence-based decision-making and long-term fire safety planning nationwide.

“This will save lives, protect livelihoods, safeguard national assets, and reduce avoidable losses resulting from fire disasters,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed, who called on corporate bodies, developers, business institutions, and the general public to fully embrace and support the implementation of AFCAS, also warned that any officer who engaged in acts that undermined or compromised the integrity of the system’s implementation would be sanctioned and where applicable, prosecuted, stressing that fire safety compliance was not optional but a civic responsibility.

He commended the leadership and management of the GNFS for their commitment and professionalism in bringing the initiative to fruition, noting that the system demonstrated the country’s readiness to adopt innovative solutions to meet the evolving demands of public safety in a modern Ghana.

Madam Daniella Mawuse Ntow Sarpong, the Chief Fire Officer, described the introduction of AFCAS as a defining moment in the Service's operational evolution.

She noted that prior to the implementation of the digital platform, fire safety compliance processes in Ghana were largely manual, fragmented, and time-consuming, making inspections difficult to track and delaying certification processes for individuals and businesses.

“With AFCAS, interactions with the public will be simplified, inspections better coordinated, compliance tracked in real time, and risks identified earlier than ever before,” she said.

She said the system would also introduce a reliable and structured revenue stream for the Service, thereby reducing its over-reliance on Government subventions and enabling it to reinvest in its core mandate.

Madam Sarpong said additional resources would support both local and international training programmes for personnel, enhance public fire safety education campaigns, and strengthen operational capacity through improved logistics and modern firefighting equipment.