Ghana Tourist Board trains lifeguards

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - The Ghana Tourists Board (GTB) is doing the necessary consultation to institutionalise the training of lifeguards or pool attendants, a requirement for the operation of all swimming pools in the country.

Mr Frank Kofigah, Director of Operations, at GTB, said this at the weekend at the end of a five-day training programme for 33 pool attendants. He said the Board would issue stickers to owners of swimming pools and this would be renewed every year and added that it was important that every swimming facility in the country had a qualified pool attendant at post.

Mr Kofigah said the board was aware of the high patronage of swimming pools and beaches especially during holidays and weekends yet some of these facilities are unsecured and unsafe because of the absence of qualified lifeguards.

"Stories of drowning that hit headlines will not make Ghana attractive for leisure tourists," he said and urged participants to put the knowledge they gained during the training to good use. "Help bring some level of sanity, safety and security on our beaches and at swimming pool sites," Mr Kofigah said.

Participants were taken through courses including: "Aquatic accidents, Aquatic rescue techniques, first aid, pool treatment and maintenance, beach life-guarding and beach life-saving. 22 Nov 10