FIRE OUTBREAK CASES DROP IN KUMASI (PAGE 18)

THE effective educational campaign embarked upon by the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana Fire Service led to the reduction of fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between January and May this year.
According to the Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, ACFO Mr Obeng D. Dwamena, 420 fire outbreaks which cost about GH¢3,505,685.90 was recorded in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs between January and May 2008 as against 445 fire outbreaks recorded during the same period in 2007.
The estimated amount of property destroyed through fire outbreaks in 2007 was GH¢2,735,976.00.
Briefing members of the Fire Service Council during their maiden visit to Kumasi to find out the performance of the Fire Service personnel in the region, Mr Dwamena expressed his appreciation to his officers and men for their commitment and professionalism in the execution of their responsibilities.
The visit enabled members of the council and the regional fire officers and men to have fruitful interaction on measures that could help improve the image of the service.
Mr Dwamena pointed out that the marginal achievement of the Fire Service personnel would not make them complacent but would rather ginger them to work very hard to make civil society aware of the dangers of fire outbreaks and their consequences.
He said being conscious of such issues would help the public to take precautions to reduce fire outbreaks.
He said fire education campaigns would also be taken to schools, marketplaces, churches and industries in order to minimise further the incidence of fire outbreaks.
" We are also making concerted efforts to sensitise the general public to fire precaution regulations and also meet our internally generated target for the year 2008", he noted.
He pointed out that last year they succeeded in meeting about 95 per cent of the set target on the internally generated fund for the state.
Mr Dwamena said since discipline formed part of the bedrock of every successful organisation, he was committed to promoting discipline among his subordinates and would not condone any act of indiscipline by personnel that would undermine the image of the service.