TAKE FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION SERIOUSLY (PAGE 46)

The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive,Mr Robert Kempes Ofosu-Ware, has cautioned fire victims to take education campaigns on fire prevention at work places and homes seriously to avoid destruction of property and human lives.
He gave this advice when the Tema Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in conjunction with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly presented relief items valued at GH¢10,000 to some 50 fire and flood victims in Tema, Ashaiman and Kpone- Katamanso.
The items included mattresses, cups, plates, cooking oil, rice, blankets, roofing sheets , roofing nails and cement.
Those who received the items included residents of Site One, Tema, whose structures were razed down on June 10, 2009 rendering several families homeless .
Mr Ofosu -Ware said the use of naked lights during power outages was dangerous, and that residents in illegal structures usually forgot that they were vulnerable to disasters.
He noted that they indulged in illegal electricity connections and also had electrical wires hanging dangerously on their houses .
Mr Ofosu-Ware urged them to contact the Ghana National Fire Service for assistance and direction as to how to handle electrical gadgets, and what to do in times of fire outbreaks while waiting for the arrival of fire personnel.
He said the relief items were not to replace all lost properties but to help give them some relief and reassure them of the assembly's concern about their plight.
Mr Ofosu-Ware reiterated that Tema did not experience any significant flooding but noted that there were some isolated cases at the outskirts, and therefore those affected were also to benefit from the gesture.
The assemblyman for the Padmore Electoral Area in Tema, Mr Asumah Mohammed, who received the items on behalf of the victims, expressed appreciation to the NADMO and the assembly for their concern.
He emphasised that the victims had learnt their lessons the hard way, and promised that they would take the pieces of advice of the chief executive seriously.
Some victims who were present at the presentation showed gratitude to the assembly for honouring its promise to support them when the disaster occurred.