CFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has gone digital with the nationwide rollout of the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCAS) to computerise the application of fire permits, certificates and equipment tagging.
The platform, announced in a press statement on August 28, 2026, is now open to the public at www.afcas.gnfs.gov.gh for online applications.
According to the GNFS, the move gives full digital effect to the Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations, 2003 (L.I. 1724), as amended by L.I. 2249, which requires every premises – commercial or residential – to hold a valid fire permit before construction and a fire certificate on completion.
The Service said the reform has become necessary after years of paper-based certification, manual inspections and weak enforcement.
GNFS data indicate that more than seven in ten properties nationwide currently lack a valid fire certificate, manual processing typically takes months, and paper certificates are vulnerable to forgery with no central real-time record.
AFCAS Features
The new system comprises six integrated systems including the digital fire permit & certificate portal to automate application, inspection, approval and renewal, cutting processing time from 21 days to a maximum of 10 days, with QR-coded certificates and automated renewal reminders at 90, 60 and 30 days to expiry.
It also has a fire equipment tagging and tracking system to build a national inventory of safety equipment including extinguishers, hydrants, hose reels, fire doors, alarm panels, LPG cylinders and elevators, each with a scannable tag.
There is also the thermal imaging wiring certification to detect hidden electrical hazards such as overloaded circuits and overheating equipment;24-hour digital surveillance to connect heat, smoke and gas sensors at high-risk premises including fuel stations, depots and major public buildings, with real-time alerts to GNFS district commands.
Furthermore there is the training and certification system to maintain verifiable records of officer competency and service provider licensing to vet and license fire-safety companies across nine categories.
Under the directive, all vehicle owners, property owners and occupiers are required to apply through the AFCAS portal, while procurement departments of businesses, institutions and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are to engage only GNFS-AFCAS licensed contractors.
All newly imported fire equipment will be tagged at the point of entry, while owners of equipment already in use have a six-month window from the date of publication to have their equipment inspected and tagged by GNFS-authorised officers.
The rollout comes after a series of major fire disasters including the January 2025 fire at Kantamanto Market in Accra which destroyed over 7,000 stalls, and the April 2026 fire at Kejetia Market in Kumasi, in addition to fires at Adum, Techiman and the Tamale Timber Market.
The initiative marks a key reform under Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, the first woman to lead the 70-year-old Service, who has pledged to build a more open, transparent and accountable GNFS.
In the statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Divisional Officer One (DO I) Emmanuel Bonney, the GNFS appealed for full cooperation from stakeholders to improve fire safety nationwide.
Members of the public seeking further information may contact the Service on 0557679695 or 0243288969.
A Daily Guide Report