University of Ghana gets fire station
Communities in the Greater Accra Region have been urged to provide premises and facilities for the establishment of more fire stations for closer and better access to fire prevention and extinguishing services.
Mr. Albert Brown Gaisie, Deputy Chief Officer in-charge of Operations, Greater Accra Region, made the call at the inauguration of University of Ghana (UG) Fire Station in Accra on Monday.
The university authorities provided the building while GNFS provided personnel, logistics and equipment for its operation.
Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of UG, said there had been an increase in settlements around the university and establishment of the fire station was a good idea.
He thanked GNFS for the fire station and was hopeful that more equipment would be provided for the new station.
Mr. Gaisie said available statistics from the GNFS Headquarters indicated that between January-May this year, Ghana experienced about 1,359 fire outbreaks.
He said Greater Accra Region experienced the highest with more serious national concerns including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Electoral Commission, National Lotteries and residence of Former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Mr. Gaisie called on Parliament to review the bushfire control and PNDC Law 229, saying the current penalty rate for offenders was GH¢10 which was too low.
He pointed out that fire precaution regulation of 2003 of the Fire Service made it mandatory for all public residential centres, health institutions and schools to acquire fire certificates to enable them operate.
“Considering the expansion, concentration and complexity of Accra Metropolis, the 13 stations within the metropolis are woefully inadequate. The Region may need about 20 more fire stations to enable it deal with fire and emergencies effectively”, he added.
The Deputy Chief Officer advised the public to be fire conscious by patronising portable fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and early detection and suppression of fire.
He appealed to other communities to emulate the authorities of University of Ghana’s example and urged the personnel at post to maintain the facilities entrusted to them.
The fire station would service communities around the University, Tetteh Quarshie interchange, Spintex road, Atomic Energy among others.
Source: GNA