Government secures loans to resource the Fire Service

Accra, May 7, GNA - Two loan facilities have been sourced from the Exim Banks of India and America to procure fire controlling appliances and equipment for the country's fire stations. The India Exim Bank is supporting the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) with 75 Fire Tenders and five Foam tenders while over 100 Fire appliances including Hydrochloric Platforms would also be procured from the America Exim Bank facility.

Addressing the passing out ceremony of 210 Cadet Officers in Accra on Friday, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Chairman of the Fire Service Council, said arrangements were also being made by government to source funding from other countries to support the GNFS with equipment including ambulances and the training of personnel.

"I will therefore wish to thank the government for its commitment to support the GNFS with the State-of-the-art-equipment", he said. He said the Fire Service Council was also negotiating with the Ministry of the Interior to ensure that fire personnel would also have the opportunity to embark on peace keeping operations. Alhaji Sorogho who is also the Member of Parliament for Abokobi Madina, also stated that the Council was also collaborating with the management of the GNFS in finalizing the review of the conditions of service of GNFS staff.

He noted that due to the hard work of the GNFS, it had been rated as the best in Fire Extrication (Fire Fighting) in the Sub Saharan Region by the World Rescue Organisation (WRC) and the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO).

"This feat also makes us the second best to only South Africa on the continent. This has earned us participation in the World Extrication Challenges in September 2010", he added. The Cadet Officers who had undergone a three months training at the Fire Academy and Training Schools (FATS) were taken through lessons in Public Speaking, Corporate Image, Officership, Information Management and the Fire Service Act 537, Legislative Instrument (LI) 1724 and LI 1725. Officer Cadet Samuel Kofi Sagoe was adjourned the Overall Best Cadet while Cadet Officer Godfried Ntow was also the Best in Foot Drill. Officer Cadet Jemima Allotey received the Commandant's Award while the Best in Academic Award was given to Officer Cadet Emmanuel Afoakwa. The Cadet Course aims to prepare fresh University degree holders ,diplomats and Serving Junior Officers with the requisite academic qualification and experience to stand up to the task and demands of the Senior Officer Corps of the Service.

The Fire Academy and Training School was established in 1957 at the Old Fire Headquarters at James town in Accra. It was then known as Fire Service Training school and later moved to it present location at the depot for Mobil Oil Ghana limited. The Training School offered five level training programmes including Recruit Courses, Refresher Courses, Cadet Courses, Industrial Training and Career Courses. The 210 Officer Cadet graduates were Station Officers and Group Officers who had served for periods ranging from 15 to 20 years. Their training programme started on the 7th of February this year. They comprised 45 men and 65 women of various educational and professional backgrounds from all over the country. 7 May 10