Konongo: Angry residents attack firefighters for arriving late to fire scene

Some angry residents in Konongo in the Ashanti Region attacked fire officers for arriving late to a fire scene.

On Saturday, February 10, 2024, fire officers from Konongo reported to a fire scene near Nkwakwa.

While at the scene, the firefighters received another distress call and had to quickly return to Konongo township since the only fire tender serves several communities.

Upon arrival at the Konongo scene, the residents, unhappy about the delay began pelting stones and other items at the fire crew.

The angry residents also caused damage to the fire tender. It took the intervention of the police to calm the situation.

Although the police have yet to make an arrest, they have begun an investigation into the attack.

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 at the scene in a private vehicle after the tender developed a fault.

This angered the residents who launched an attack on the firefighters.

Speaking on the Asamankese issue, the Eastern Regional Public Relations Officer of GNFS D03 Ignatius Baidoo urged the public to refrain from attacking firefighters, emphasizing the risks they take to save lives and protect victims’ properties from fire.

“We risk our lives to come and save people’s lives, and when we are met with such hostilities, it affects us. We want to caution those who engage in such acts to desist because it is an offense under Section 205 of the Criminal Code. It is against the law to prevent an officer from executing his mandate, so we advise people to desist,” he said.