Tono, Garu-Tempane to get fire stations(Saturday, September 29, 2012. Page 18)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, (ACFO) Mr. Edwin Blankson has disclosed that a contract has been awarded for the construction of new fire station at Tono near Navrongo while another one will be opened in Garu-Tempane. ACFO Blankson who said this during a tour of the region by members of the Ghana National Fire Service [GNFS] Council indicated that additionally the Bongo fire station is earmarked for upgrading soon. The tour of the region by the council members was to access the performance of the service as well as challenges faces the GNFS in the discharge of its duties. The team was led by its Chairman, Hon. Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho who indicated that over the past three and half years, government has invested heavily in the service through the supply of logistics such as the new fire tenders that government can take between 2000 and 3000 gallons of water unlike the old tenders. He disclosed that 75 additional modern fire tenders have been procured from India and will soon arrive in the country for distribution. In addition, several firefighting equipment including breathing apparatus, firefighting suits and compressors have also been bought for distribution to the station stressing that all these will give fire service personnel better chances of controlling fires and rescuing victims during fire outbreaks. Addressing personnel of the service in the region, Alhaji Amadu B. Sorogho stressed the need for discipline and dedication to duty. The Chief Fire Officer, Brigadier General J.B. Guyiri told the personnel that much as the management appreciate the fact that knowledge enhancement and development of human resource, things ought to be done within rules and regulations of the service. “The fire service is a professional institution but as I speak to you, the service as we have now does not boast of a single fire engineer. And the terms of conditions tells us that if you want to get higher in the service and access tertiary institution, you should go for a course that is relevant to the GNFS. You do not go a do any course and come and hold the service to ransom with a degree that has nothing to do with fire fighting”, he said. Earlier, members of the Council paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni during which, Alhaji Sorogho disclosed that during their visits to some fire service stations across the regions, they realized the lack of both office and residential accommodation for personnel of the service. He therefore appealed to the regional coordinating councils, (RCC) to collaborate with the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, (MMDAs) to provide shelter for equipment and personnel of the service as well as construct new fire hydrants at strategic locations for refilling during times of fighting fires. Alhaji Sorogho said the Fire Service Council on its own, has released GH c 1 million as rent advances to the over 7000 personnel of the service noting that the amount is inadequate and that government should provide a permanent solution to solve the accommodation problems faced by the service and its personnel. The Deputy Upper East regional minister Mrs. Lucy Awuni commended personnel of the fire service in the region for their performance and assured the council that the RCC will make it a precondition for all municipal and district assemblies to first put in place the necessary structures and shelter to house fire tenders and other firefighting equipment before opening up a fire service station in any district. -End-