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Seven people, including three Chinese, were yesterday arrested in Accra for failing to insure their commercial buildings against disaster.

They were apprehended in an exercise carried out by the National Taskforce for Compulsory Insurance of Private Commercial Buildings, made up of staff of a joint team of the National Insurance Commission (NIC) and Ghana Police Service personnel.

It was aimed at ensuring compliance with the Insurance Act 724, which obliged all private commercial entities to obtain insurance before the completion of their buildings.

Gao Quankang , the Managing Director of Casino Gold Hotel, Ganesl Shrestha, project officer of Yan Tai International, both at Alyssum Down, Accra, and Jarklin Xiong, a senior management staff of Ghana Heavy Duty, were the three Chinese who were arrested in the scoop.

The others are Samuel Alfred and Fritz Jordan of General Auto Zone at Spintex, Denis Tettey of Yan Tai International and Mary Bempah of Eco Furniture at Asylum Down.

Out of nine private commercial buildings that were inspected, four of them including Sneda Shopping Centre, Robin Hood Hotel, IGS Financial Services and City Centre Guest House had insured their buildings while the other five were cited for non-compliance and had their people arrested.

Briefing the media, the Chairman of the Taskforce, Joseph Bentor, said the action was part of efforts to enforce compliance of the Insurance Act, and encouraged owners of commercial buildings to ensure compliance.

He said since the beginning of the year the taskforce has conducted inspection on about 70 buildings in January and issued warning to about 48 buildings that were not insured.

‘’We had communicated to those in charge of the buildings to register with an insurance company before we carry out this action. Last month, our team went round to remind them of their responsibility but few have complied so far,’’ Mr. Bentor said.

On public buildings, he called for the review of the Insurance Act, to allow the NIC impose a compulsory compliance on all buildings owned by government.

Mr. Bentor explained that currently the act only obliged private commercial buildings to register with any insurance company, which in default amount to a criminal offence.