Odo Rise, Mr Bigg’s face closure

Two popular eateries in Accra, Odo Rise and Mr Bigg’s, face possible closure following the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum for managers to meet fire safety requirements.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Friday issued the directive after observing a lack of adherence to fire safety rules for restaurant operators.

Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GNFS Billy Anaglate told Class News the two restaurants were operating under very dangerous conditions which could compromise public safety.

He explained: “We gave them a 24-hour ultimatum because if you look at the two places we’ve gone to, even their firefighting facilities, such as those extinguishers they have there, are not working. They have expired. Some of them do not have some of their components in place.

“If you look at Odo Rise, where we inspected the gas cylinder that they are using, they were all leaking. So, if you have a leaking gas [cylinder] within the premises where you are using fire, then you should know you are sitting on a time bomb. It is a good recipe for fire outbreaks. And if that happens, you can imagine lives that will be lost there because of the congestion that they have in there.

“That situation is not even different at Mr Bigg’s. As much as they are under every obligation to meet those standards, it is also to the protection of their own lives, to the lives of unsuspecting customers who also come to patronise whatever they are selling.”

Meanwhile, owners of a filling station sited in a waterway near Weija have up to today, Monday April 11, to stop construction and relocate. Residents have complained about the siting of the station, which is close to the Panbros salt plant and residential homes. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is expected to dispatch a team of experts to enforce the directive for closure.