Agona West: The Agona West Municipal Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has issued an appeal for assistance to repair a broken-down fire engine, which has been out of service for over three months. This situation has severely hindered the station's ability to promptly respond to fire emergencies both within and beyond the Agona West Municipality.
According to Ghana News Agency, Deputy Agona West Municipal Fire Commander, DOIII Elizabeth Naana Gaisie, explained in an interview at Swedru that the station has been forced to rely on a single motorbike to reach fire scenes. This limitation has extended the station's operations to Gomoa Central District, Awutu Bawjiase, and surrounding areas in the Awutu-Senya-West District of the Central region. The situation has necessitated referring all fire outbreaks to stations in Winneba and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, resulting in significant delays in reaching emergency sites.
To mitigate potential fire disasters, the Command has intensified its fire safety educational campaigns through local radio stations and at major markets in Swedru. Fire safety education is also being conducted at filling stations, shopping malls, and supermarkets to encourage the acquisition of fire extinguishers and other preventive measures.
Deputy Commander Gaisie has called upon Members of Parliament, including Mr. Kwame Asare Obeng of Gomoa Central, Mrs. Ernestina Ofori Dangbey of Agona West, and Mrs. Gizella Tetteh Agbotui of Awutu Senya West, as well as the Agona West Municipal Assembly and citizens of Agonaman, both locally and abroad, to assist in resolving the fire station's challenges. Additionally, she appealed to the Swedruman Council of Chiefs to provide land for constructing accommodation for station officers.
Nana Kweku Esieni V, Regent of Agona Swedru, has echoed the urgent need for intervention from the Ministry of Interior and local MPs to procure a new fire engine. The Regent assured that the Swedruman Council of Chiefs would seek support from Agonaman citizens to help the fire station acquire the necessary resources to efficiently carry out their duties.
