Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia reaffirmed the government’s commitment to recruiting more Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) personnel to meet international standards.
He disclosed this when he commissioned phase I of the Fire Service Academy and Training School (FATS) in Duayaw Nkwanta in the Ahafo Region of Ghana on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has in their last seven years in government, recruited more personnel into the Fire Service than any other government, adding that they will add more in the coming years in order to meet international standards.
“It is unprecedented in the history of the Ghana National Fire Service, for a single government to recruit over 7,000 personnel. When we came into office, the Fire Service had a total of 8,000 personnel. That is, from independence to 2017, we had a total of 8,000 personnel and we have come into office just after seven years, we have added 7,000 personnel to the GNFS.
“This achievement spearheaded by the NPP government led by His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo showcases the administration’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities of our fire fighting force to provide world-class emergency fire fighting and rescue services to good people of this great country of ours,” he said.
“The assurance here is that the NPP government is even more poised to recruit more personnel into the GNFS to meet international standards and ensure a fire man to citizen ratio of 1 to 800.”
In order for the service to also perform their duties well, he revealed that the government has advanced plans to provide them with modern equipment.
“The provision of command vehicles, modern fire engines, drones, rapid intervention vehicles, buses, appropriate personal protective equipment, rescue and fighting equipment is part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure that our fire fighting personnel are well equipped to respond efficiently to emergencies. This investment in modern equipment aligns with the government’s vision to empower the GNFS to deliver on its lawful mandate of saving lives and properties.”