Ghana Fire Service Ready For Harmattan Season

Due to rampant incidents of fire outbreaks during the dry weather season, also known as Harmattan, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is seeking to up its game to combat the fires.

It is in this direction that Madam Janet Duah, Assistant Chief Fire Officer in charge of the Volta Region, has assured that the fire service was more than prepared for the annual instances of bushfires.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, she said a house to house fire safety education was being undertaken by the Service and would be sustained throughout the dry season.

Madam Duah said fire volunteer groups have also been established in all districts across the region to fight fires 'anytime, anywhere' and called for support from traditional rulers and opinion leaders.

The Commander said cattle herds, hunters and other groups who worked with fire are a central focus as part of efforts to keep down the rate of wildfires, and advised the public to be on the lookout.

She said with the exception of Ho West District, all districts in the Volta Region have fire tenders and pledged prompt delivery should the need arise.

Mr Maxwell Blagodzi, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, earlier told the 14th Congress of the Coalition for Peace and Development of Buem, at Akaa in the Jasikan District, that farming communities must take steps to ensure that farms and wildlife are not destroyed and help protect electricity poles and other installations during the season.

"As the harmattan season intensifies, it is very important that we caution people who work with fire to be very careful not to destroy years of hardwork", the Minister said.

---Ghana News Agency