By Ghana is quietly grappling with challenges in managing fire outbreaks and delivering other rescue services mandated to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) due to a shortage of equipment, particularly fire tenders.
According to a report by JoyNews obtained through the Right to Information Law (RTI), the country has just 248 fire tenders available for a population of 30.8 million people.
The investigation, conducted by JoyNews editor Fred Smith, revealed that only 155 of these fire tenders are operational, leaving 133 out of commission across various regions.
Speaking on the findings on Monday, November 4, 2024, during JoyNews Today, Fred Smith stated, “There are only 248 fire engines available. Alarmingly, 133 are either faulty or out of commission, representing 53.6 per cent. Common issues include engine malfunctions, brake faults, control board problems, and electrical faults.”
The findings indicate that the Oti and Upper East regions lack any operational fire tenders, whereas the Volta and Greater Accra regions report the highest number of non-functional units.
“There are two regions with 100 per cent appliance problems: the Upper East and Oti regions. In the Volta Region, 15 out of 17 appliances are down. The Upper West Region has 14 fire tenders, of which 12 are not operational.
In Greater Accra, around 60 per cent of fire engines are either faulty or out of use. Critical areas like Adenta, Abelemkpe, Trade Fair, and Tema township are left with only one operational truck, which may also be in poor condition. Even the National Headquarters is not spared,” Mr Smith said.
The findings also revealed that some areas in the heart of the national capital, Accra, are lacking sufficient fire tenders to effectively respond to emergencies when they arise.
“At Korle Bu, there isn’t a single operational truck, and one was in such poor condition that it caught fire while on its way to respond to a fire outbreak in Kasoa a few months back, never reaching the scene. In Weija, the only fire appliance has broken down due to an engine fault.”
Further investigation revealed that in the Ashanti Region, 25 percent of the 24 fire trucks are either faulty or out of service. Areas such as Kumasi Metro, the Kumasi Regional Headquarters, Manhyia, and New Edubiase all have trucks with malfunctioning engines.
