The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Peter Tetteh, has called for the adoption of modern technology and legal reforms to curb increasing attacks on firefighters.
Speaking during the International Firefighters’ Day celebration at the Ashanti Regional Fire Service Headquarters in Kumasi, he stressed that assaults on fire personnel remain a serious concern that must be urgently addressed.
He proposed the introduction of body cameras to help identify and prosecute individuals who harass or attack fire officers while they are on duty. According to him, such technology would not only provide critical evidence but also deter potential offenders.
The event, held under the theme “Attack on Firefighters and Equipment is Attack on Public Safety; End Assaults and Protect the Firefighter,” aimed to raise awareness about the need to safeguard fire service personnel and their equipment.
Providing statistics, ACFO II Tetteh disclosed that the Ashanti Region recorded 348 fire incidents in the first quarter of 2026, a 9.6% decrease from the 385 cases reported during the same period in 2025. He attributed the drop to intensified public education on fire safety.
Despite the improvement, he called for stronger legal backing, including the establishment of fast-track courts or dedicated legal teams to handle cases involving assaults on firefighters.
He concluded by emphasising that sustained public education, coupled with enhanced legal and technological measures, is essential to ensuring the safety of firefighters and improving emergency response efforts.
