Sunyani, June 20, GNA - The government has approved 15 million dollars for the purchase of modern fire equipment and tenders, Mr. Felix Kwame Ferkah, Chief Fire Officer, said on Friday. He said the Ghana National Fire Service has acquired a vast parcel of land at Ayikuma near Dodowa to establish a fire college. Mr. Ferkah was addressing personnel of the service at a durbar in Sunyani as part of a tour of the Brong Ahafo Region by the Fire Service Council.

Mr. Ferkah said the council had drawn a four-year strategic plan that would position the service to meet modern emerging challenges and that efforts were being made to review conditions of service of personnel. He said the GNFS intended to upgrade the fire service clinic and the Academy Training School. Mr. Ferkah said Ministry of Finance was considering registering all security personnel with the National Health Insurance Scheme free of charge. "Because the decision has not been concluded, I will urge all of you who have not registered with the scheme to do so", he said.

Nana Frimpong Anokye Ababio, Chairman of the Council, stressed the need for personnel to embark on vigorous fire education campaign more especially in market places, schools and hospitals. "The government alone can not shoulder the responsibilities of the GNFS", he said and called on the public to contribute their quota to make the service vibrant.

Mr. Kwaku Manu Afful, Regional Fire Officer, said fire outbreaks are still high in the region despite several education drives. He said between January to May, the service attended to 316 distress calls as compared to 409 for the whole 2007. He mentioned inadequate residential and office accommodation as the main challenges confronting the service in the region. "There are always problems between personnel and their landlords. It is ejection notice, rent increment or payment of utility bills", Mr Afful said. Mr. Afful said even though the government is taking steps to house personnel of the service, there was the need to make provision for rented quarters in the interim.