Bono East Region launches annual anti-bushfire campaign
The Bono East Region has launched its annual anti-bushfire campaign at Kwame Danso in the Sene District capital with a call on residents to guard against the threat of bushfires to protect their environment, farms, communities and livelihoods.
“The threat of bushfires cannot be underestimated due to the destruction it can cause to forests, grasslands, crops, wildlife habitats, ecosystems, water sources, wetlands, and soil quality, says the Bono East Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Assistant Chief Fire Officer Grade Two (ACFO II), Rev. Naomi Ofori Adubea.
Speaking at the launch which coincided with the passing out of fire volunteers here at Kwame Danso on Monday, ACFO II Rev. Ofori Adubea said fire was a good servant when used in various forms including cooking food and the provision of heating system for homes but can also be a bad master that can cause damage to infrastructures such as bridges, powerlines, barns, livestock, crops, and farming equipment when used wrongly.
She said bushfires over the years have led to the loss of precious lives, injuries, air pollution that often caused respiratory problems, mental health impacts (stress trauma).
The Bono East Regional Fire Commander said PNDC Law 229 of 1990 prohibits starting a bush fire, adding, that a person who contravened a provision of the Law shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both fine and imprisonment and urged residents not to fall foul of the law to inccur its wrath.
“As we enter the dry season let us all make it a concerted effort to prevent and eliminate bush fires from our communities.”
Inaugurating the new fire volunteers on behalf of the Chief Fire Officer Julius Kuunuor, the Bono East Regional Fire Commander urged them to put to good use the knowledge and skills acquired from the training to enable them to protect the community from bushfires in order to protect lives and property.
BY TIMES REPORTER
