Media is major tool for building public confidence — GNFS

DOIII Yenzu

DO III Ebenezer Yenzu, Fire Commander, the Ashaiman Municipal Fire Station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has described the media as a major tool and a key stakeholder that could be used to sharpen the work of the service to deal with negative public perceptions about firefighters.

He said the partnership between the media and GNFS was critical to steer the wheels together to get the people to appreciate the work of fire safety and the firefighter.

The work of the GNFS cannot be done alone hence the need for all stakeholders to come together towards institutionalizing a good working environment to save lives and properties, DOII Yenzu stated during interaction with the media, monitored by the Communication for Development Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) at Tema.

DO III Yenzu, who is also the GNFS Tema Regional Command Public Relations Officer said the doors of the Service are always opened for discourse and clarifications hence the media must endeavour to capitalize on that to fasten the working relationship between the two institutions.

He urged the public to always reach out to the GNFS on time as timely informing of the service saves lives and properties.

He also appealed to journalists to be circumspect in their reportage on fire outbreak-related issues to promote and sustain national development.

He expressed concern about the behaviour of some journalists who failed to verify all facts when they are at the fire scenes and go on air with a one-sided view of victims or eyewitnesses.

DO III Yenzu said some journalists have adopted a penchant for reportage without consulting the GNFS in times of fire crisis before airing their publications and broadcasts.

According to him such acts rather defames and undermine the activities of the Service hence retarding its works and jeopardizing its hard-won reputation.

He appealed to media practitioners to help clear wrongful perceptions about the means of firefighting by the GNFS that is been assumed and postulated by some members and sections of the public.

"Sometimes after a fire incident, journalists go to the fire scenes to interact with victims and eyewitnesses. They will say a whole lot of things and some journalists will fail to reach out to the fire station who went to douse the fire.

“I am surprised that a lot of us report the only one side of what the purported eyewitnesses say without even consulting the GNFS, this must change," he added.

DO III Yenzu reiterated the need for the media to intensify education in the public terrain on the role of the Service in saving lives and properties.

He said the personnel had made huge sacrifices through their works and making the name of the Service vibrant hence the need to court the support of the public.