Accra: The Kadjebi District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in partnership with the District Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has conducted a sensitisation program for residents on preventing domestic and bushfire outbreaks. Addressing the congregation at the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Church in Menuso, a farming community in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region, Mr. John Kwame Anane, a Subordinate Officer, emphasized the importance of handling gas cylinders with caution to prevent leaks and potential explosions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Anane urged residents to replace damaged regulators and keep gas cylinders outside in cases of severe damage. He advised the community, predominantly consisting of farmers, to create fire belts around their cleared lands before burning to prevent bushfires. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of ensuring fires are fully extinguished before being left unattended, keeping flammable materials away from heat sources, avoiding the overloading of electrical outlets and extension cords, and properly disposing of cigarettes and matches.
Mr. Anane further suggested forming a Community Fire Volunteer Corps to assist in combating fire outbreaks. Mr. Richard Kwashie Segbawu, the Chief Field Officer of the NCCE, stressed the importance of handling naked fires with care to prevent fire incidents. He specifically cautioned farmers, hunters, and palm wine tappers to exercise caution when handling fire outdoors to prevent bushfires.
Mr. Segbawu noted the severe and long-term impacts bushfires can have on the environment, wildlife, and human communities. He identified the loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats, soil erosion, air and water pollution, displacement of communities, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure as some of the adverse effects of bushfires.
Mr. Raphael Fiave, a Catechist at the church, expressed gratitude to the NCCE and GNFS for their educational efforts. Similar sensitisation programs have been conducted in other communities, including Gyamonome, Ketepii, Akpeloto, Kosamba, Mempeasem, and Poase-Cement.
