Fire Safety Week launched

Accra, April 27, GNA - Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have been asked to consider sinking dedicated boreholes, around sensitive installations to provide water for the operation of the Ghana National Fire Service during fire outbreaks.

Mr Mark Owen Mayongo, Minister for the Interior, who made the appeal said, government was aware of the challenges faced by the Service in carrying out it national mandate and the MMDAs would continue to be impressed upon to create access in the communities and markets to enable the Fire Service respond swiftly to fire emergencies.

Speaking at the Fire Safety Week in Accra under the theme, Ensuring Fire Safety for National Development', the Minister said over the few last years, Government procured fire fighting vehicles to augment what already existed and also assisted the Service in its operations.

He said the risk of fire was one of the greatest threats to health, property and the delivery of essential services in the community and the destructive impacts of those fires on lives, properties and resources had significant negative socio-economic effects on the country, which ultimately retarded the country's development.

'The loss of life or property, as a result of fire, is a tragedy. Industry, government, and indeed everyone, share in the responsibility of protecting Ghanaians from the consequences of fire and its prevention,' he said, and assured the public that government would continue to equip the Service to promote efficiency.

The Minister said government believed that when all embraced the fire safety culture, fire outbreaks would be brought to the barest minimum, and urged all to take steps to protect themselves by learning about prevention of home fires.

'….it is only through effective collaborative efforts of all stakeholders that we can reduce these annual fires to the barest minimum. The Ministry of the Interior and other supporting agencies cannot adequately deal with this problem alone. All other stakeholders, MDAs, Chiefs, Opinion leaders and the public have respective roles to play in Fire Safety Management,' he added.

Dr Albert Brown Gaisie, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), said the launch was to sound a serious reminder for stakeholders and the public at large, to be more committed and to work as a team to minimize fire outbreaks in the country.

'The major fire outbreaks the Nation encountered during the first quarter of this year had necessitated the launch of the Fire Safety Week ahead of the International Launch in June, 2015,' he added.

CFO Dr Gaisie said the Service in its efforts to ensure the purpose of GNFS Act 537 had expanded its mandate to include all forms of rescue operations taking into cognizance the modern trends all over the world.

'Today within the West Africa Sub-Region, the Ghana National Fire Service has carved a niche for itself as one of the most dynamic Fire Organizations. The Road Traffic Collision Unit of the Ghana National Fire Service and that of South Africa are the only representatives of Africa on the World Rescue Organization and every year our personnel are trained in basic and advanced techniques of rescue,' he announced.

Mr Samuel V. Akyianu, former Chief Fire Officer, who graced the occasion, urged the officers to be vigilant and intensify their public awareness education on fire prevention.

'You should move to the offices and industries and continue to educate them to prevent fires to save the country from economic and social loss,' he said.

The former CFO also advised them to eschew jealousy, and remain committed to fight the common enemy, which he said was the fire outbreaks.

GNA