The Agona West Municipal Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has appealed to Members of Parliament (MPs), the Ministry of Interior, well-to-do Agonaman citizens, financial institutions and private individuals to go to their aid to repair a broken-down fire engine.
Over three months now, personnel of the station find it extremely difficult to respond to distress calls to fight fire outbreaks that occur in and beyond the Agona West Municipality.
DOIII Elizabeth Naana Gaisie, the Deputy Agona West Municipal Fire Commander told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Swedru that the situation had forced the personnel to use the only one motor at the station to fire scenes.
She said the Swedru Fire Station extended its operations to Gomoa Central District, Awutu Bawjiase and its enclaves in the Awutu- Senya-West District of the Central region.
She further revealed that the station now referred all fire outbreaks to Winneba and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District stations which made it difficult for the personnel to reach scenes early due to the distance.
The Command had intensified its fire safety educational campaigns on radio stations and the two major markets at Swedru to avert fire outbreaks.
The Deputy Commander said fire safety education was also being carried out at filling stations, shopping malls and supermarkets on the need to acquire fire extinguishers and adopt other tactics to reduce fire outbreaks.
She appealed to the Members of Parliament of Gomoa Central, Mr Kwame Asare Obeng; Agona West, Mrs Ernestina Ofori Dangbey; Awutu Senya West, Mrs Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, the Agona West Municipal Assembly and citizens of Agonaman both at home and abroad to contribute to go to the rescue of Swedru Fire Station to save lives and property.
On accommodation challengs facing officers, the Deputy Fire Commander, appealed to the Swedruman Council of Chiefs to release land to the command to enable them to solicit for financial support to put up bungalows for men and officers of the station.
Nana Kweku Esieni V, Regent of Agona Swedru who spoke to the GNA, added his voice to the urgent call on the Ministry of Interior and MPs in the three constituencies to respond swiftly to purchase new fire engine to assist officers and men to discharge their duties efficiently.
The Regent assured the Officers and men of the station that the Swedruman Council of Chiefs would also spread their tentacles to solicit assistance from Agonaman citizens home and abroad to support the office to acquire a new engine for the station.
Source: GNA
