GRIDCo has taken a significant step towards strengthening fire safety in its operations, following the official handover of a fire readiness assessment report by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). The reports mark the completion of a nationwide audit exercise conducted across GRIDCo’s facilities, signalling the beginning of the next phase toward a fire safety certification and an enhanced collaboration between the two institutions.
The fire readiness assessment exercise, which commenced in June 2026, was a decision taken, following the Akosombo Fire incident. The collaboration between GRIDCo and the Ghana National Fire Service aims at improving fire risk management, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring the safety of employees and assets nationwide.
Over a one-month period, GNFS teams assessed GRIDCo’s substations, warehouses and operational facilities across the country, evaluating existing fire prevention and protection systems and identifying areas for improvement.
In a brief meeting on Tuesday 15th September, 2026 at the GRIDCo head office, representatives of the Ghana National Fire Service formally presented the report and certification application forms to Management. Divisional Officer Grade One (DO I) Micheal Ato Korsah led the GNFS delegation, accompanied by Assistant Divisional Officer One (ADO I), Khadija Yakubu, Safety Officer. Welcoming the team, GRIDCo Chief Executive, Ing. Frank Otchere expressed appreciation for the Fire Service’s commitment to the exercise and reaffirmed GRIDCo’s dedication to implementing the recommendations contained in the reports.
Director, Technical Services, Ing. Vincent Boachie noted that Management had already received positive reports about the outcome of the assessment and looked forward to reviewing the findings in detail.
Conveying greetings from the Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawuli Ntow Sarpong, Mr. Korsah recalled that during the exit conference, the Fire Service promised to return with the final reports and initiate the certification process. “On behalf of the Chief Fire Officer, we are pleased to present the report and the certification forms,” Mr. Korsah said. “We have seen GRIDCo’s commitment throughout the process, which gives us the confidence that the recommendations will be implemented. Each form is to be completed and returned to us, as we begin the certification journey,” he again noted.
Mr. Korsah also provided an update on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GRIDCo and the Ghana National Fire Service, indicating that the Chief Fire Officer had constituted a legal team to review the document. He stated that, once the review process is completed, both institutions would meet to discuss the way forward and formalise the collaboration.
Responding, Ing. Otchere thanked the Fire Service for prioritising GRIDCo and completing the nationwide assessment in good time. “Let me thank you and your team for prioritising GRIDCo,” he said. “We intend to deepen our collaboration with the Fire Service, and GRIDCo is committed to ensuring that all the recommendations are fully implemented.”
He added that the audit had provided a valuable opportunity to assess GRIDCo’s fire preparedness. “You carried out the assessment and audit, so the narrative of our fire readiness will change and become an example for others,” he remarked.
Ing. Boachie also reiterated Management’s commitment to addressing the findings of the audit. “When we work on these recommendations, it benefits all of us. It is in our collective interest to put things right so, thank you very much for your support,” he said.
Highlighting GRIDCo’s determination to meet the required standards, Ing. Otchere stressed the Company’s desire to obtain a fire safety certification as soon as possible. “We want to be certified as quickly as yesterday,” he said, adding that collaboration between GRIDCo and several Regional Fire Offices was already yielding positive results. He further extended warm regards to the Chief Fire Officer and invited the Ghana National Fire Service to participate in GRIDCo’s annual safety celebrations scheduled for next month in Akosombo.
Also participating in the meeting were, Deputy Chief Executive, Ing. Samuel Nkansah; Director Southern Network Department, Ing. Francis Arthur; Director Organisational Development, Joseph Dakora Zumasigee; Director, Corporate Strategy, Mr. Samuel Kow Acquah; Mr. Benjamin Nkrumah, representing Director Internal Audit; Ag. Safety Manager, Mr. Augustine Kumi; Ing. Frederick Yobo, Senior Electrical Engineer, Technical Services Department; Mr. Martin Ananga, Technical Services Department; Special Assistant to the CE, Ing. Papa Kojo Mensah; Project Monitoring and Evaluation Officer who doubles as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Engineering & Operations, Ing. Alberta Mukaronda and Manager, Corporate Communications, Dzifa Bampoh.
