Mr Kwabena Owusu Akyeampong, Deputy Minister for Interior, has appealed to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to develop an action plan to monitor all strategic institutions and installations to ascertain their safety.

He said the appeal was as a result of the recent fire outbreak at the Lands Commission and other fires in Accra, Lawra, Kasoa and other parts of the country.

Mr Akyeampong said this when addressing the 43rd passing out parade for 300 new recruits of GNFS in Accra on Friday.

The recruits made up of 178 men and 122 women underwent a four month training exercise at the Fire Academy and Training School.

Some of the courses in the training include Fire Safety, Building Construction, Hydraulics, Road Traffic Extrication, Mobilisation and Communication, Fire Drills, Chemistry of Combustion.

Mr Akyeampong warned people who deliberately set buildings on fire to desist from such acts since they would not be spared when arrested.

He commended the GNFS for being one of the most dynamic fire organisations in the West African Sub-Region as far as human resource development was concerned.

“Our vision is to build a world class fire training institution that would equip the personnel with modern methods of fire fighting, rescue and fire safety.”

Mr Akyeampong said the Ministry was working out refresher courses for different categories of the personnel and urged them to work towards improving themselves academically and professionally.

“I, therefore, entreat you all as young recruits to have a vision to upgrade and educate yourselves and not to rest on your oars. This would give you a better understanding of issues and a broader world outlook.”

Mr Akyeampong urged the recruits to be strong and courageous as their profession was a life threatening one, which involved saving lives and properties, evacuation and rescue missions.

“Therefore, never allow yourselves to be intimidated and pushed to the wall by the untrained. This does not however, mean a show of recalcitrance and lawlessness,” he warned.

Mr Akyeampong appealed to the authorities not to resort to the media to air their grievances, but rather channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters for redress, and abide by the rules of engagement of the Service.

Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Chairman of Fire Service Council, appealed to Ghanaians especially motorists to always give way on hearing the sirens of fire tenders in order not to delay their operations.

He said the Service was constructing mechanised boreholes solely for fire tenders for use in fire fighting missions and appealed to Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of purchasing fire extinguishers for their vehicles and homes.

“People have money to build or buy expensive houses and vehicles but failed to purchase fire extinguishers which are less expensive. This, to me is quite unfortunate,” he said.

Alhaji Sorogho called on the media to intensify the education among the public on the need for fire prevention.

Brigadier-General John Bosco Guyiri, Acting Chief Fire Officer, said there were 6,649 fire officers in the country and this “with our population and international standards, the personnel is woefully inadequate.”

He expressed appreciation to government for the presentation of 151 fire tenders to the Service adding that more would be arriving from Europe soon.

Awards were presented to Recruit Fire Man Raphael Otoo for being the Overall Best Recruit, while Larbo Philip was adjudged the Best Recruit in Academics.

Recruit Fire Woman Gladys Apandoo received the Commandant’s Awards while Eugene Cudjoe Kabu was adjudged the Best Recruit in Foot Drills.**