Stop unnecessary attacks on firefighters-GNFS

The Management of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has cautioned a section of the public who reign attacks on fire officers while conducting their duties.
According to the service, it took notice of a recent trend of assault on firefighters by a section of the general public which prevented the fire service personnel from conducting their legal mandate as fire officers.
The GNFS also cited the Asamankese attack in the Eastern Region and Dawhenya in the Greater Accra Region as the recent attacks on fire officers.
In a press statement signed by the Head of Public Relations,,DOII Ellis Robinson Okoe, it explained that in the case of the Asamankese attack, the fire tender had broken down and there was nothing the Fire Officers could do than to fall on Kade Fire Station which was quite a distance away.
The service also said that some irate youths of Dawhenya were demonstrating and set tyres on fire in the middle of the road; Firefighters were called to douse the fire but were attacked with stones and missiles as a result three of the firefighters sustained various degree of injuries.
It is unfair for Fire Officers to suffer such attacks whilst performing their legitimate duty for God and Country. It is worth saying, that despite our limited resource and constraints, we go all out to ensure that we bring all fires under control and act promptly during rescue and road accidents,” it stated.
“The Ghana National Fire Service unreservedly condemns this dastardly act and wishes to reiterate that fire management is a shared responsibility. We will continue to bring our services to the door step of all Ghanaians to ensure maximum public safety,” GNFS added.
Below is a statement by the GNFS
 
PRESS STATEMENT
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
STOP THE UNNECESSARY ATTACK ON FIREFIGHTERS
Management of the Ghana National Fire Service has taken notice of a recent trend of Assault on firefighters by a section of the general public thus preventing personnel from conducting their legal mandate as Fire Officers.
It would be recalled that over the last few months there has been attacks on Fire Officers the recent one being the Asamankese attack in the Eastern Region and Dawhenya in the Greater Accra Region.
Management takes a serious view of this shameful act by a section of the public, who have perpetrated this crime with the excuse that Firefighters did not attend to the fire incident early enough.
It should be noted that Fire Officers can only be able to attend to emergencies when they are called early. Response time is very key to firefighting and therefore we do not compromise on that.
In the case of the Asamankese attack, the fire tender had broken down and there was nothing the Fire Officers could do than to fall on Kade Fire Station which was quite a distance away. Also, some irate youths of Dawhenya were demonstrating and set tyres on fire in the middle of the road. Firefighters were called to douse the fire but were attacked with stones and missiles as a result three (3) of the firefighters sustained various degree of injuries.
It is unfair for Fire Officers to suffer such attacks whilst performing their legitimate duty for God and Country. It is worth saying, that despite our limited resource and constraints, we go all out to ensure that we bring all fires under control and act promptly during rescue and road accidents. The Ghana National Fire Service unreservedly condemns this dastardly act and wishes to reiterate that fire management is a shared responsibility. We will continue to bring our services to the door step of all Ghanaians to ensure maximum public safety.
The Service would also appeal to the Minister of Interior to institute a probe into this matter to ensure that Fire Officers would be free to do their work without fear.
SIGNED
ELLIS ROBINSON OKOE
DOII
HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
0244768354/0299341254
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