By Austin Agyenim Boateng
The Bono Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Assistant Chief Fire Officer II (ACFO II) Cecil Addo, is urging the government to swiftly provide the Service with additional fire tenders and critical equipment to enhance its capacity to respond to emergencies.
ACFO II Addo revealed that although 11 out of the 12 fire tenders assigned to the region are currently operational, most of them are in poor condition and require urgent attention. He made this appeal during an interview with GBC in Sunyani.
According to data from the GNFS, fire outbreaks in the Bono Region increased from 178 cases in the first half of 2024 to 197 in the same period of 2025 an 11% rise.
ACFO II Addo attributed this increase to various human activities, particularly the misuse of electrical appliances. He reiterated the Service’s commitment to fighting fire outbreaks but warned that its operational challenges demand immediate government support.
“We are determined to reduce fire outbreaks, but our efforts are hampered by the poor state of our fire tenders. We need urgent support from the government to replace and augment the fleet and other essential tools,” ACFO II Addo stressed.
On the issue of fire hydrants, he expressed concern about how many have been either built over, sealed off, or affected by low water pressure, making fire fighting even more difficult.
“Many hydrants in the region are either blocked or not functional due to construction activities or water pressure challenges. This puts us at a disadvantage during emergencies,” he lamented.
To mitigate fire outbreaks and improve public education, ACFO II Addo disclosed that plans are underway to establish new fire stations in Chiraa and Dumasua. Additionally, the GNFS in Bono has formed four task teams to intensify fire prevention efforts.
“We’ve established market education teams, house-to-house sensitization groups, fire patrol teams, and even stationed a standby fire tender at the market at night to respond swiftly to emergencies,” he said.
ACFO II Addo also called on individuals and institutions within the region to support the GNFS, saying the Service remains logistically constrained and cannot do it alone.
“The lack of support from the public is disheartening. Fire safety is a shared responsibility, and we need the community’s help to succeed,” he appealed.
The rising cases of fire outbreaks, coupled with aging equipment and limited resources, continue to stretch the capacities of the Ghana National Fire Service in the Bono Region. But with collective support and urgent intervention from authorities, the Service hopes to reverse the trend and better protect lives and property.
