CalBank Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Ambulance Service, has tested the readiness of its customers and staff when it comes to unforeseen incidents such as fire outbreaks.
Head of Corporate and Investor Relations and Partnerships at CalBank, Dzifa Amegashie, speaking on the side-lines of the event in Accra stated that regular testing and upgrading of staff and customers on issues of safety is of great importance.
“Periodically, we are required to conduct certain safety drills as part of the business continuity, a framework that we have; and it’s really an exercise to test our preparedness for any eventuality whether it’s a fire, a flood, an earthquake or any type of eventuality that can put the bank and customers at risk. So, it’s something that we conduct from time to time; we don’t normally pre-inform customers or even staff because we want a certain element of surprise to enable us determine how really ready we are.
“This sort of exercise is not just conducted at CalBank, it’s conducted at many institutions throughout the country so it’s nothing alarming; it’s really just to determine how ready we are for some of these unforeseen events,” she said.
In line with safety requirements, staff and customers numbering about 500 at the sound of a fire alarm evacuated the building within the pace of 5 minutes. The staff had been cautioned not to use the elevator during emergencies but instead the stairs.
Mrs. Amegashie further stated that: “We have over thirty branches across the country. We have actually conducted more of these drills in the branches than we have at the head office, because it’s important that the branches also have the same training and safety grounding as we have here”.
Speaking to B&FT, the District Commander for Ministries Fire Station, Faustina Nelson Asiedu, indicated that the exercise is done annually for ministries and departments – and this year the GNFS chose to test CalBank.
“It is a yearly drill that we have for ministries and other departments. Today’s exercise was an arrangement with CalBank to check the readiness of their staff amid a fire outbreak, and also to inspect if the company is equipped with all needed equipment to assist in such circumstances,” she explained
Madam Asiedu applauded management for putting all safety measures in place, including training staff on ways to handle unforeseen events, adding: “Normally, it takes us five minutes to make sure everybody has evacuated the building; but within three minutes they were all out”.
She also urged Ghanaians to obey fire safety alarms and vacate premises immediately to avoid casualties.
“I would like to advise everyone that whenever we hear a siren or alarm, wherever we find ourselves, we should all respond to it and evacuate the premises – and not try to go back into buildings on fire for properties left behind.”
