By Fred Abrokwa

W.S. Darley and Company of the United States on Friday fulfilled about one third of an agreement with the Government of Ghana with the delivery of 16 fire fighting tenders and rescue package including communication gadgets and safety equipment to the Ghana National Fire Service GNFS at a ceremony in Accra.

The transaction was out of a concessionary loan of US$12.8million by Exim Bank of the USA to the Government of Ghana for the supply of fire trucks built by the W.S. Darley and Company.

The second batch is expected in the country in the next three months, according to Mr. Kevin O’Sullivan, Fire Engineer of W.S. Darley and Co.

He said the 16 tenders comprise14 water pumpers and two tankers. Each pumper has the capacity to pump 1250 gallons of water per minute and water canon have been attached to the pumpers to fight fire on high rise buildings or factories

Mr. O’Sullivan said owing to the powerful nature of the equipment they would perform excellently with supply of sufficient water.

In his commissioning remarks, the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Al-Hassan urged fire-fighting personnel to cultivate the culture of good maintenance to ensure longevity of the equipment.

He asked the Chief Officer to make adequate budgetary allocation for the maintenance of fire tenders under the current agreement and warned that he would hold him personally responsible for damage or neglect of any of the facilities within the next four years.

Alhaji Malik advised personnel of the service selected for training in handling and maintenance of the engines to share the knowledge and experiences they acquire with their colleagues for the benefit of the nation.

Ms. Kathryn Dee Robinson, US Ambassador to Ghana, noted that the transaction is a demonstration of the type of commercial collaboration that the two nations enjoy.

She said the best type of international trade is that which provides benefits not just to the seller, but to the recipients.

"The purchase of these fire trucks from W.S. Darley for use by the Ghana Fire Service is an excellent example of how well-conceived trade deals can indeed assist the people of Ghana."