AMA, GNFS To End Fire Outbreaks

Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has joined forces with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to curb fire outbreaks in the metropolis At a meeting with officials of the GNFS, the Chief Executive Officer of AMA, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, disclosed that the Security Committee of the Assembly was putting up modalities that will ensure compliance with certain regulations that will help prevent fires. He indicated that he will rally support from international organisations for the GNFS to be well-equipped to take up the mandate of responding to emergencies. Dr. Okoe Vanderpuije pledged support for the service and outlined measures to fight fire in the metropolis. Since the beginning of this year, sixty fire outbreaks have been recorded in Accra and three lives lost as a result. He said as Chairman of the Metropolitan Security Committee (METSEC) at a meeting held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at the Assembly and the following measures were reinforced: He said the Assembly in collaboration with Electricity Company of Ghana will engage contractors to disconnect all illegal electrical connections within markets, all allays and walkways will be cleared of containers and trading activities in order to create easy access into the markets and instructed his personnel to ensure that no person shall sell animals in any markets, unless the place has been designated by AMA for that purpose. The mayor also indicated that the AMA will collaborate with the Ghana Police Service to ensure that all road blocks without permit are disallowed. Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana Fire Service, Dr. Albert Brown Gaizie, revealed that indiscipline, negligence, lack of access routes coupled with poor traffic management are the banes of fighting fires in the country. According to the chief fire officer, these activities make it difficult in fighting the outbreak fires in the country. He said in Accra people disregard the sirens hence the delays in fire officers getting fire scenes late. Dr. Brown Gaizie said it was only in Accra that hearse used sirens. He said most of the fires occur as a result of �carelessness and negligence� on the part of people. Dr. Gaizie mentioned that the Assembly�s bye-laws have the mandate to ensure that infrastructures are protected. He said traffic, basic and simple fire safety management in the metropolis has been thrown away as a result of gross indiscipline in the country. He gave the assurance that his outfit will complement efforts of other agencies to ensure safety. He also appealed to the general public to observe and show some respect to emergency response during the rush hours of the day.