Ghana National Fire Service, avoid misuse of siren

I believe that the fact that some institutions like the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) are entitled to use the siren to alert motorist in order to respond to emergency situation, they are not permitted to use that opportunity to abuse its use.

On Thursday, April 12, 2012 I was surprised to see an official vehicle of the Ghana National Service (GNFS) abuse the siren. The vehicle (fire tender) with the number FS 546 on top speed with the siren was seen coming from the Ako Adjei interchange towards the GNFS headquarters.

Whiles standing right opposite the headquarters anticipating that this particular fire tender was responding to an emergency situation, all I realized was its sudden silence upon entering into the premises of the GNFS headquarters. Thinking that it was possibly coming to reload and move out, I stood there and watch this particular vehicle park. This was around 5pm.

I was so shocked that a whole state institution like the GNFS could employ this strategy just to beat the traffic and avoid following the queue. This act of an individual has the tendency to cast a slur on GNFS as an institution and could end up affecting their credibility when motorists realize they misuse the siren.

I hope the appropriate authority considers this serious and deal with it as such before it becomes the norm for GNFS to abuse the siren.