Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that Ghana incurred losses exceeding GH¢64 million due to 6,796 fire outbreaks in the previous year alone. These devastating incidents resulted in 50 fatalities and left 241 individuals injured.
Dr. Bawumia described this situation as unacceptable and called for a collective effort to find a solution. To address the issue, he disclosed that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) would receive 200 rapid intervention vehicles from the government before the end of the year to bolster its operational capacity.
Notably, a prototype of these vehicles has already arrived in the country, and the rest will be assembled locally, promoting domestic production.
Speaking at the graduation parade of the Cadet Course Intake 23 of the GNFS at the Fire Academy and Training School in James Town, Accra, Dr. Bawumia emphasized that fire outbreaks had not only caused significant losses to individuals, organizations, and institutions but also placed a considerable burden on the government.
The consequences of these losses, especially the loss of human lives, remain dire and challenging to address. Dr. Bawumia stressed that the fight for fire safety is ongoing and requires continuous attention and a concerted effort to consolidate progress and enhance achievements.
He urged the GNFS officers to continue educating the public about fire safety, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to spread fire safety awareness across the country.
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing fire safety in Ghana. He mentioned that two additional Fire Academy and Training schools and a Fire College were under construction in Duayaw Nkwanta (Ahafo Region), Wungu (North East Region), and Kyebi (Eastern Region). The first phases of these projects are set to be completed by the end of September.
Additionally, the government has provided the GNFS with two hydraulic platforms capable of reaching the 16th floor of a building, aiding the service in handling fire and rescue situations in high-rise buildings. The government also allowed the service to recruit 2,000 new entrants to bolster its human resource capacity.
During the graduation ceremony, a total of 339 officer cadets, comprising 210 males and 129 females, were commissioned into the officer corps of the GNFS. These newly commissioned officers completed a 32-week cadet course, which included 12 weeks of internship and fieldwork, along with 20 weeks of intensive training at the Fire Academy.
The event was attended by dignitaries such as the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II; the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery; the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul; the Chairman of the Fire Service Council, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi; and the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
As a part of the ceremony, the GNFS unveiled its new camouflage uniform, symbolizing a fresh chapter in the service’s commitment to fire safety and protection.