He said the firefighters were also going to be provided with safety clothing.

This, alongside the use of hydraulic platform, would make fire-fighting easier.

Mr. Kuntu Blankson was addressing personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at a durbar in Kumasi during a day’s official visit to the Ashanti Region. This was his first visit to the region since his appointment to his new position.

He said the supply of protective clothing to the firemen could not wait, adding that, they could not continue to fight fire in khaki uniform.Mr. Kuntu Blankson also spoke of the eagerness to focus priority on capacity building and said in line with this a new training school would be established.

Fire safety education to help significantly reduce fire outbreaks would also be scaled up.

The Regional Fire Officer, Mr. Robert Semekor Fiadzo, said the region reduced fire cases by 45 per cent, last year. He added that they had put in place measures to prevent recurring fire outbreaks in major markets and slums in the Kumasi metropolis and said good progress was being made.

They had also been collaborating with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to check sub-standard electrical wiring in the slums.