Ghana National Fire Service to be incorporated into security forces

A Parliamentary Review Committee is considering the proposal to incorporate the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) into Ghana’s security forces.

Brigadier-General Emmanuel John-Bosco Guyiri, Acting Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, announced this at Koforidua on Friday, during his official visit to the GNFS offices in the Eastern Region.

He said if approved, the proposal would help raise the status of the GNFS and give more fringe benefits to all officers of the Service.

Brig-Gen Guyiri gave the assurance that government would provide the GNFS with more fire fighting equipment and build the capacity of fire personnel.

“It is part of government’s commitment to resource the service. There are other facilities on board for some of you to have the opportunity to go to Belgium, India and the United Kingdom for training to improve the Service,” he said.

Brig-Gen Guyiri said these countries would supply fire fighting equipment to the GNFS and “When that is done every district in the country would have at least a fire tender to make fire fighting effective”.

He asked personnel of the GNFS to reciprocate government’s efforts by discharging the duties professionally to prevent and fight fires in the country.

Divisional Officer Bartholomew Kofi Nketsiah, Regional Fire Commander, said that the Region had recorded 103 fire outbreaks, which destroyed properties estimated to cost GH¢395,000 from January to August this year.

He indicated that 42 people died and 128 persons were injured in the disasters and said the GNFS had educated the people on fire fighting and prevention.

Source: GNA