Alhaji Sadique, a member of the Fire Service Council, has hinted that the government of Ghana had secured a loan of $15million from the Indian Exim Bank to procure seventy (70) water and five foam tenders for the GNFS for distribution to enhance its operations particularly at the various districts.
He said additional $44 million loan would also be secured for the purchase of about 90 fire tenders, one thousand personal protective clothing, five hundred breathing apparatus and some area ladders for use by the service.
He disclosed this when members of the Fire Service Council visited the offices of the regional GNFS and interacted with the personnel.
He noted that members of the council were determined to ensure that government improve the living conditions of all personnel of the service particularly staff of the GNFS who were overstretched owing to weak staff strength and added that such workers should get the commensurate remuneration.
He indicated that the council was initiating a move to recruit more staff for the service and organize capacity building programmes for staff of the service. He urged the personnel to continue to exhibit the spirit of nationalism to keep on uplifting the image of the GNFS.
Alhaji Sadique who represented the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare on the Council, bemoaned the attitude of some staff of the service which did not measure up to expectation stressing that council would do all within its power to ensure discipline in the service.
On his part, ACFO Stephen Oscar Cobbinah, Western Regional Commander of GNFS told members of the council that his outfit had participated fully in all seminars, workshops and meetings on oil and gas that had taken place in the region but personnel were looking forward for programs that would position them to stand up against challenges associated with the emerging oil industry.
He called on the fire service council to help the command extend its services and open fire stations in some districts including Ellembelle, Wassa Amenfi East, Akontombra and Bia, all in the region.
He mentioned some of the challenges of the regional GNFS as obsolete equipment and ageing fire appliances, inadequate infrastructure to properly accommodate fire stations and lack of in service training for personnel to upgrade their ability to perform.
STORY: FROM SETH AMEYAW DANQUAH, SEKONDI
