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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is investigating a number of its staff for their alleged roles in extortion and the issuance of fake fire certificates.

The Chief Fire Officer, Dr Robert Brown Gaisie, who made this known, warned that personnel who engaged in that unprofessional behaviour would be summarily dismissed. 

The CFO was addressing a durbar of fire service personnel in the Central Region in Cape Coast last Wednesday.

Dr Gaisie also used the occasion to unveil a plaque and inaugurated an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre for the service.

He said issuing of fake certificates would have dire consequences not only for those issued with such certificates, but for society at large.

Comparing the destructive nature of fires to robbery, the CFO said “if an armed robber enters your house, he will take some essential items but fire does not discriminate, it will consume everything”.

Responsibilities of fire personnel
Dr Gaisie said fire personnel had a mandate to rescue, extricate and remove trapped victims during accidents, noting that a lot of accident victims died as a result of the unprofessional manner in which they were rescued.

“I can see all manner of people, including welders, fitters and bystanders pulling accident victims anyhow from the wreck trying to save their lives,” he said.

He also stressed the need for the personnel to adopt strategies to contain and prevent fires.

 Dr Gaisie announced that the regions were to be divided into three zones to identify high, medium and low risk areas prone to fire disasters, to make for efficient performance.

He advocated the establishment of fire cadets in all schools and recognised institutions.

Statistics 
The Central Regional Fire Service Commander, Mr Semekor Kwaku Fiadzo, expressed concern about the indiscriminate turning of residential accommodations into hostels, most of which were done without fire certificates.

“Most people are turning their residential accommodation into hostels without due regard to safety. These facilities are without kitchens, and early warning signs,” he said.

The Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, who chaired the function, pledged to support education on fire prevention in the region.