Assessing Household Compliance to Fire Safety Preparedness in the Ashiaman Municipality of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: In recent years, fire breakouts have gained global attention. Globally, fire is seen as a possible danger to sustainable development because to its influence on ecosystems, contribution to carbon emissions, and effect on biodiversity. The Earth has been plagued by a series of natural catastrophes. In Ghana, fires have contributed to a number of man-made catastrophes with various property and life losses. Fire safety readiness encompasses the availability and successful use of processes, infrastructure, and equipment, as well as the understanding and positive attitude of building occupants and employees toward the fulfilment of fire safety preparedness rules. Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of households’ and their compliance to fire safety preparedness in the Tema-Ashaiman Municipality. Method: This study adopted the quantitative approach. The research employed a systematic sampling approach to select 413 participants from different households in the study area. The data collection instrument was questionnaire which covered the knowledge, attitudes and compliance to fire safety among households. Through the use of IBM SPSS v 26.0, the data was analysed using descriptive analytical tools specifically, measures of central tendencies such as means, frequency, percentage and standard deviation. Results: The assessment of knowledge regarding fire safety measures among participants highlights the success of prior awareness campaigns, with nearly half of the respondents demonstrating a strong understanding of these measures. a significant deficiency was observed in terms of active fire control systems within residential buildings. By addressing both the successes and challenges in fire safety preparedness and compliance, communities can work towards creating a safer and more resilient living environment.