The Chairman of the Ghana National Fire Service Council, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, on Wednesday stated that, the lack of recognition and attention of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) by successive governments had been the bane of the Service.
He said the Service had not been given the needed attention and governments over the years had failed to provide the basic logistics to
enable the Service to combat fire and carry out its other functions effectively.
Alhaji Sorogho, who is also the Member of Parliament for Abokobi Madina, expressed the concern at a durbar to mark the 4th official National Fire Service Council Members meeting in Cape Coast.
He said the situation had resulted in low morale among the personnel and indiscipline on the part of some officers.
He said the Mills administration had strategized and would ensure that due attention and recognition was given to the Service.
Alhaji Sorogho stressed that his outfit was on course and would resource the GNFS to make it one of the best institutions in the country.
Among the measures taken were that uniforms, boots, basic equipment, building apparatus and fire fighting materials would be ready within a month for distribution and urged personnel to be disciplined in order to win
public confidence and respect.
Alhaji Sorogho also assured them that the Council was expecting a minimum of 60 pick-up vehicles to be distributed to all the regions to enhance their activities.
Personnel of the Service should therefore stay focused and work with diligence because "there are happier times to come", he declared and advised them to take bold decisions and manage with the little resources available until they were taken care of.
He asked the women in the Service to work hard to attain higher positions and eschew shyness and any other activity that hinder their progress.
The Central Regional Fire Officer, Mr Kwesi Ankonam Quayson, mentioned some of the challenges facing the Service to include lack of infrastructure, inadequate staffing and over aged appliances and equipment.
He said only five of the 14 fire stations in the region are permanently housed while some of the temporary fire stations in the region were nothing to write home about.
Mr Quayson noted that, going by a set standard for human resource deployment, each station require a minimum 40 personnel to function efficiently, but presently the region has a total of 543 personnel made up of 59
senior officers' and 484 junior officers, a shortfall of 17 personnel and added that comparatively it was better than in some regions.
He said the key challenges facing the region are the office and residential accommodation, vehicles, office equipment and manpower.
He assured the Council that his outfit was focused, despite the numerous problems and was making the best out of the situation, and at the same time looking forward for immediate solution to the problems.