GNFS calls for support to end bushfires in country

The Ghana National Fire Service, (GNFS) has held a Stakeholders forum on ending bushfires with a call for support to ensure that the menace is completely reduced if not stopped.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO), Mr Julius Kuunnor, speaking at the opening of the forum, said Ghana, during the first quarter of 2018 recorded 579 bushfires and in 2019 around that same period have documented 672.

He said this was an increase of about 16.06 per cent over the one-year period and the need to find solutions to end the bushfires to reduce the effect on the country.

The DCFO noted that the forum was about meeting leadership of stakeholders to help craft solutions to curtail the situation.

He said bushfires posed serious threat to the 'Planting for Food and Jobs' programme, particularly in the Savannah and the transitional zones of the country.

In this regard, the GNFS has a target of training 20,000 fire volunteers to assist farmers to adopt good farming practices that would not cause any unwanted fires to wipe out their investments.

He noted that the GNFS over the years, have not been able to effectively reduce bushfires due to dwindling national support and called for sponsorship to enable them motivate volunteers.

DCFO Kuunnor said financial support and effective public education would also help.

DCFO Robert S. Fiadzo, the Director of Rural Fires, urged stakeholders to come up with solutions that would affect the reduction of bushfires.

In attendance at the stakeholder’s forum included the representatives of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Information, Forestry Commission, Wildlife as well as Ministry of Education.