Cape Coast (C/R), March 14, GNA - Sixty-Five Fire Officers in the Central Region on Monday, appealed to President John Agyekum Kufour to appoint a Second-In-Command to Mr. Emmanuel Atenga, National Chief Fire Officer, to take over from him when he retires later in the year. The officers made the appeal at their monthly durbar at Cape Coast to discuss issues connected with the development and promotions in the Service.

In a six-point resolution adopted at the end of the meeting, the officers explained that the call had become necessary following a recent media highlight, in which Mr. Kwame Oppong Frempong, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, currently on terminal leave prior to his final exit from the service, was said to have been earmarked for the topmost position when Mr. Atenga retires. The petitioners explained successors of past National Chief Fire Officers had always been their next In Command and not their third In Command or officers who were on the verge of leaving the service.

The petitioners expressed fears that if what they heard from media about Mr. Kwame Oppong Frempong's ambition to head the GNFS was anything to go by, then the service was heading towards serious crisis. The resolution called on the government to delve into the allegations levelled against Mr. Kwame Oppong Frempong and correct any bad impression that might have been created about the GNFS to ensure continued smooth and orderly administration of the service.