Movenpick Hotel with the assistance of Ghana Fire Service at the ministries on Tuesday conducted a fire drill to train security personnel at the institution to become fire wardens.

The exercise was aimed at checking the effectiveness of the hotel’s security system, as well as equipping the team with the necessary skills needed in firefighting during a fire outbreak to bring the situation under control before the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) team gets to the scene.

During the exercise, a fire was set ablaze by the fire team to evacuate both the staff and residents from the building.

A crisis team together with Evacuation members successfully evacuated all to the fire assembly point and headcount was done.

After the drill, Second-in-command of Ministry Fire Station, DO3 Daniel Parry noted that the action taken by the hospitality firm is in compliance with GNFS L.I.

He further indicated that “This exercise is supposed to be done twice every year and has been part of L.I which indicates that every institution must have fire wardens trained, test their equipment and personnel readiness if there is any action.”

DO3 Parry averred that GNFS is always ready to train hospitality institutions to be equipped with the skills needed to off or either control fire during emergency fire disaster before the fire spreads.

During the exercise, the 2IC noted that there were vehicular movements though it wasn’t supposed to be so, adding that, participants reacted slowly to the emergency alarm rather, they should have walked aggressively to the assembly point through the two emergency exits.

Meanwhile, he called on the institution to enlarge their assembly point to contain all who lodge in their 260 hotel rooms.

Responding to the recommendations made by the second-in-command of GNFS at the Ministry Fire Station, General Manager of Movenpick Hotel, Michael Rathgeb stated that, the exercise would be evaluated with fire warden team and adjustments will be made where necessary to ensure the safety of residents in the hotel.

Mr Rathgeb noted that, though this fire drill exercise is being held every 6 months by his outfit, there would be another training coming off in the next two weeks. He maintained that his outfit had re-written and updated the drill procedure thus wanted to see if it was practicable.