By: Saaka Alhassan, Gambaga-Nalerigu

The National Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Dr. Albert Brown Gaisie has made a passionate appeal to traditional authorities in the country to assist the service to enforce fire safety management byelaws in the country.

This he said will ensure the absolute safety of the citizenry and protect the investments of Ghanaians.

Dr. Brown Gaisie made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the overlord of the Mamprugu traditional area, Naayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Sheriga at Nalerigu as part of his official tour of the Northern Command.

The visit is to seek the intervention and support of the chiefs and opinion leaders toward the prevention and management of undesired fire outbreaks in the country. It will also afford the GNFS the opportunity to come out with strategies towards the reduction of fire outbreaks.

Dr. Brown Gaisie called for the active collaboration of all stakeholders including the district assemblies, communities, traditional and opinion leaders since the GNFS cannot solely wage the war against the management and prevention of issues of fires in the country.

He stated that they need to protect the investment of the citizenry and ensure absolute safety of Ghanaians.

This, according to the National Chief Fire Officer can only be done when Ghanaians and the stakeholders recognize fire management and prevention as a shared responsibility.

Speaking on the upcoming election, the National Chief Fire Officer advised personnel of the service to be professional during the electioneering period.

He also cautioned them not to meddle themselves into politics especially during the December polls. Dr. Brown Gaisie warned that his outfit will severely deal with those personnel who will engage themselves in act of indiscipline suck as drunkenness, lingering among others during the Election Day.

Meanwhile, Dr. Brown Gaisie as part of the tour also inaugurated a new office complex for the Ghana National Fire Service for the Gambaga fire station and call on personnel to intensify fire safety education especially during the Harmattan season.

He also charged them to intensify periodic patrols on the roads to extinguish any naked fire identified. He added that they cannot wait for any community or property to be burnt down because of the negligence and carelessness of some few people.

According to him, proximity is a key component in addressing the issue of fire management.'

Dr. Brown Gaisie said is the priority of the GNFS is to ensure that every district in the country has a fire station saying it has become a necessity for citizenry to ensure their absolute safety.

The Overlord of the Mamprugu tradition area, Naayiri Bohugu Mahami Sheriga commended the National Chief Fire officer for his hard work and pledged his support to reduce the incidents of fire outbreaks in the area.