Deputy Interior Minister pledges sustainable funding to strengthen GNFS operations

The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has announced that plans are underway to resource the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) through the Security Services Fund to ensure a more predictable and sustainable flow of resources.

He announced this at the 3rd GNFS Conference held on Wednesday in Accra.

The conference, themed “Resourcing GNFS for Effective Service Delivery: The Role of Stakeholders,” highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in preventing fires and managing emergencies.

Mr. Terlabi commended the GNFS for their bravery and professionalism, acknowledging the risks they take to protect lives and property and also emphasized the importance of a collective effort in ensuring fire safety across Ghana.

“Fire safety is a national imperative, requiring the involvement of government, the private sector, civil society, and ordinary citizens,” he added.

The Deputy Minister urged stakeholders to support the GNFS with equipment, training, and resources, while encouraging citizens to cultivate a culture of fire prevention in their daily lives.

The Chairman of the GNFS Council, Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, noted that no fire service in the world can succeed without proper planning and strategy, adding that the fire service of the future should be digitalized, intelligence-driven, and staffed by professional officers capable of delivering on its mandate.

The Chief Fire Officer, Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, acknowledged the logistical challenges faced by the GNFS and also highlighted the Service’s progress in public education as well as saving lives and property.

She assured participants that the GNFS would soon roll out a digitalization program to enhance operational effectiveness and reiterated that fire safety is a shared responsibility requiring collective action.

The conference aims to address key challenges facing the GNFS, including inadequate resources and infrastructure, and to promote stronger stakeholder engagement in fire safety.