7 Billion Cedis For Fire Service

The government has released ¢7 billion from the HIPC fund to support the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

The amount is meant for the purchase of two fire tenders, a number of breathing apparatus sets, fire fighting suits and hand gloves.

The Minister for the Interior, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, announced this when he opened a three-day Directors and Regional Fire Officers Conference in Accra yesterday. He gave the assurance that the government would extend support to all security agencies to enable them to render efficient and quality services to the public.

He said the assistance of the service personnel would be employed in the on-going registration exercise and urged the personnel to exhibit lots of circumspection and neutrality during the period. Mr Owusu-Agyeman called on the officers to show personal allegiance to the state and work towards the development of the nation.

The Minister said the government was considering the appeal to ensure uniformity in the conditions of service of all security services. He commended the GNFS for its dedicated services, some of which were executed at the peril of their lives.

The acting Chief Fire Officer, Mr Emmanuel Atenga, called on superior officers to show commitment to the welfare of their subordinate staff so as to sow the seed of trust and confidence in them.

He said management's resolve to assure a leadership role in a comprehensive and sustained manner to effect changes in attitude and behaviour would be pursued vigorously.