The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has pledged government’s commitment to retooling the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), to enhance its operational efficiency.
He said discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Finance to secure funds for the procurement of modern firefighting equipment, including fire tenders, recovery trucks and water tankers.
The minister, who disclosed this while answering questions on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, gave the assurance that once financial clearance was given, immediate steps would be taken to equip the GNFS.
He noted that the GNFS has for years suffered neglect, with outdated equipment hampering its ability to respond effectively to fire emergencies.
Alhaji Muntaka revealed that the last major retooling exercise, particularly for fire tenders, was in 2014.
Currently, the Service he said has 17,500 personnel deployed nationwide, but its firefighting tools were largely obsolete.
“In the past eight years, not even a single fire tender has been procured by the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) government,” Alhaji Muntaka said, adding that efforts were underway to address this challenge as a matter of urgency.
On fire safety, he stressed the importance of compliance with GNFS safety guidelines, including the mandatory acquisition of fire certificates.
Alhaji Muntaka called on philanthropists to support the GNFS just as they did for the police, emphasising that all security services were equally important.
“I urge institutions and individuals not to overlook the Fire and Prisons Services but to support the government in properly resourcing them,” he appealed.
The minister touched on rising robbery attacks on passenger buses in the North East Region, revealing that the Walewale Police Command needed more resources for effective supervision.
To curb the menace, he mentioned that new police stations have been created in the West Mamprusi constituency, each manned by 30 officers.
Additionally, escort services for market women and intensified community engagements have been introduced to enhance security.
“Following the attacks on passenger buses, the Interior Ministry on Saturday imposed a curfew in Walewale and its environs to contain the situation,” he disclosed.
“As part of my ministry’s efforts to sustain the gains with respect to the reduction in armed robbery cases in Walewale and its environs, the Walewale Police District Command which had jurisdiction over both West Mamprusi and Mamprugu-Moagduri districts was found to be too large for effective supervision by one Senior Police officer,” the minister noted.
Alhaji Muntaka called for intensification of public engagement and the creation of Neighbourhood Watch Committees in selected communities in the Walewale enclave, to reduce, if not eliminate robbery.
This he explained would enable police personnel to engage community members to share information and educate them on basic personal security tips.
Alhaji Muntaka said it would also encourage the members to volunteer information to police, to ensure that the people feel part of the security architecture of their respective areas.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, contributing to the discussion, bemoaned the inadequacies in the GNFS.
He called for a specific timeline for the acquisition of the new firefighting equipment, stressing the urgent need for proper planning to address the crisis.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
