GNFS holds end-of-year get-together

 The  Ministry of the Interior will engage  the  Ministry of  Finance  on the  retention  of a portion of  the Ghana  National  Fire  Service (GNFS)’s  Internally Generated Fund (IGF).

This, according to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, would enable the GNFS to embark on more projects.

Mr Dery said this last Friday at the GNFS’ end-of-year get-together held at the Service’s headquarters in Accra.

The event was aimed at appreciating God  for  ushering the  GNFS into  the  new year, and also create the opportunity for the fire officers to  wine and  dine together.

 He  said  the ministry was also  working  hard to ensure  that GNFS  regulations  were  transformed  into a Legislative Instrument (LI)  by the middle of the year, adding that, “The LI will provide for allowances that will serve as motivation for you to work harder.”

Mr Dery said government had resolved to equip the GNFS in a manner that would enable it offer enhanced services to the public and meet world class standards as well.

He said in 2019, the GNFS acquired 11 vehicles, four 34-seater buses, recruited over 2,000 personnel to augment the human resource and also cut sod for the construction of a forensic laboratory.

Mr Dery disclosed that the Service would take delivery of two hydraulic platforms this year and cut sod for the construction of the Fire Service Burns Hospital  in Tema.

Hydraulic platform is an equipment that helps fire fighters to access high rise buildings extending beyond 15 floors during fire outbreaks

 He commended the  GNFS  for effectively  handling  the  Ghana Revenue  Authority (GRA) fire outbreak,  which saved part of the building  and other properties.

 The  Chief  Fire Officer (CFO) Edwin Ekow Blankson,  on his  part said,  189 Assistant Divisional Officers (ADOIIs) would soon be promoted to ADOIs while 2,433 junior ranks would be promoted to the next rank, adding that, “Divisional Officer Grade 3 (DOIII)  to  Assistant Chief Fire Officers (AFCOs) , who have  spent three years and above  will also be interviewed  in due course for promotion to the next higher rank.”

He said the GNFS lost 43 personnel in 2019, and urged serving officers to embark on periodic health checks to nip in the bud any potential life threatening disease.

BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU