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The Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has reported a relative increase of 24.8 per cent in fire outbreaks, including Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) in 2024, compared to 2023. Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Eastern Regional Commander of the GNFS, told the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua, that the region responded to a total of 876 incidents in 2024.
He noted that this record included 749 fire outbreaks, up from 600 cases in 2023, along with 127 Road Traffic Collisions in 2024, compared to 118 in 2023.
He attributed the increase in fire outbreaks to rampant bush burning, saying the Service shall intensify fire safety activities, such as bush fire prevention education, volunteer training, auditing of high-risk premises, public fire safety education, and enforcement.
ACFO Osafo-Affum also mentioned that the Regional Command would reinforce fire safety regulations to protect the citizenry.
To this end, a committee had been established to ensure compliance with the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1724, Fire Precautions (Premises) Regulations, as amended in L.I. 2249.
Furthermore, the region was in the process of forming two specialized teams: a Firefighting Team and a Rescue Team, to ensure that no incident or emergency exceeded the capabilities of the Regional Command, he said.
