The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is calling for justice and police protection due to increasing attacks on their firefighters.
In a statement, the GNFS threatened to boycott emergency service following attacks on firefighters at Konongo, Asamankese, and most recently, Kenyase.
“Despite their timely response at 11:30 am at a domestic fire at Hwidiem Zongo on Saturday, February 17, 2024, the GNFS crew upon arrival at 11:48 am, faced accusations of tardiness and subsequently endured a mob attack, resulting in injuries to the duty driver and a firefighter and damage to the fire tender,” the statement said.
Emphasizing the urgency of addressing the violence against their officers “The GNFS insists on swift investigations and legal actions against perpetrators to ensure firefighters’ safety during emergency response”.
The angry residents also caused damage to the fire tender. It took the intervention of the police to calm the situation.
This came on the heels of another incident that saw a confrontation between officers from the Asamankese Fire Station and residents of Apraman, a community near Kade.
The officers arrived on the scene in a private vehicle after the tender developed a fault.
This angered the residents who launched an attack on the firefighters.