Accra: The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has honoured Ms Samira Larbie, a Chief Reporter of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), with the Fire Safety Promotion Award in recognition of her dedication to fire safety awareness. Ms Larbie, through her consistent reportage, has contributed significantly to educating the public on fire safety. The GNFS said her collaboration with the Service over the years had advanced its mission of protecting lives and property.
According to Ghana News Agency, she was among three media personalities presented with plaques and citations at the National Safety Awards 2025 by Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sapong, the Chief Fire Officer. Her citation, captioned: Excellence in Safety Journalism, reads: 'Samira Larbie, for your dedication to promoting safety through credible reporting, your voice has strengthened national safety awareness efforts. We salute your commitment to informing and protecting the public.'
Ms Larbie, who also covers Health for the GNA, said the award affirmed the crucial role of journalists in public education and national development. 'This recognition is not just for me but for every journalist who believes saving lives begins with informed communities,' she said. She urged media practitioners to use their platforms to share life-saving information, particularly in underserved areas where access to safety education remained limited.
'Media isn't just about headlines; it's about impact. Telling these stories hasn't always been easy, but it is necessary because too many lives have been lost to preventable fires,' she said. Ms Larbie called for stronger collaboration between journalists and emergency services to sustain continuous public education.
The other awardees were Ms Juliet Mettle-Edmonds, News Editor at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and Mr Odi Ahenkan Kwame Yeboah, Presenter of Peace FM's Drive Time Show. The ceremony, on the theme: 'Recognising Excellence, Inspiring a Culture of Safety,' celebrated individuals and organisations championing safety awareness nationwide.
Madam Ntow-Sapong said the awards sought to build a culture where every Ghanaian embraced safety as a way of life - at home, in school, on the roads, workplaces, markets and public spaces. She noted that in the past two years, the GNFS had issued over 41,000 fire certificates, 9,000 fire permits, and conducted 32,626 fire safety audits and inspections. 'We have also held more than 33,000 public education sessions across the country and helped save over GHS354 million worth of property from fire disasters,' she said.
The GNFS recorded 3,595 fire cases in the first half of 2025, compared to 3,576 in the same period of 2024, a marginal increase of 0.53 per cent, attributed mainly to non-compliance with basic fire safety rules during severe weather conditions earlier this year. The event was attended by Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, Minister for the Interior, security industry stakeholders, and representatives from corporate Ghana.
