Government will soon retool the Ghana National Fire Service to enable personnel protect lives and properties by promptly responding to fire emergencies in the country, the Minister for Interior has said.

Ambrose Dery’s promise follows recent comments made by Acting Chief Fire Officer, DCOF Edwin Ekow Blankson charging personnel to buy their own firefighting protective clothing to supplement the inadequate ones owned by the service.

Mr. Blankson is reported to have told fire officers who complained about the challenges they have with firefighting protective garments and other equipment to “Buy your own protective clothing to save yourselves from injury and death during firefighting.”

At a ceremony to send off 20 fire officers who are leaving the country for a training course in Malta, Mr. Dery assured the personnel of government’s commitment to provide the service up to date equipment to fight fire.

“In this year’s budget, we are going to get you equipment that will help you go higher than your limitation which was just 5 storey,” he stated.

About the Fire Training Course

The Firefighting training course is being spearheaded by the Interior Ministry in collaboration with the Honorary Consulate of Malta.

The twenty Ghanaian Senior Fire Officers are expected to leave the country on February 17 for the 10-day course and return on February 27, 2018.

The course is expected to build the capacities of the participants to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.