Sunday, October 3, 2010

FIRE SERVICE TO GET MODERN EQUIPMENT (PAGE 19, OCT 2, 2010)

THE government is expecting in the country very soon modern fire fighting equipment ordered for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The first consignment of the equipment is expected to arrive from the United States of America (USA) by December, this year.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Martin Amidu, who announced this, said the government would soon sign a €9.7 million partnership agreement with the Government of Belgium to supply 75 fire tenders, including hydraulic platforms, to enable fire personnel to fight fire from heights of about 36 floors of buildings.
Already, he said, Parliament has given approval for the government to secure a concessionary loan for the purchase of modern equipment for the fire service.
Mr Amidu made this known when he led a delegation from the Interior ministry and the GNFS to inspect what remained of the Midland International Company, which was gutted by fire, killing four persons in the process.
He was conducted round and briefed by Mr Jecty Obese, the Managing Director of Midland International Company.
Mr Amidu expressed surprise at the extent of damage caused by the fire and called on the GNFS to conduct intensive investigation into circumstances that led to the incident and present its report as early as possible.
He said the law required that GNFS give approval before any operation was conducted at areas where inflammable materials were kept.
Mr Amidu said the ministry would ensure that its mandate of saving lives and property was fulfilled and, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to learn the rudiments of how to prevent fire to safeguard property.
The minister and his delegation later went to the residence of Mike Safo-Mensah, 40, the deceased engineer of M&B Engineering Company, who perished in the fire incident last Saturday, to console the bereaved family.
A spokesman for the bereaved family, Mr Emmanuel Opare Asiedu, thanked the minister and his delegation for their concern.
The Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, Mr William Acquaye Brown, and the Deputy Fire Officer in charge of Tema, Mr Godwin Damalie, were part of the delegation.

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