Mr. Ambrose Dery, Minister for the Interior, has inaugurated the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Governing Council at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra.
The 11-member Council sworn into office are; Hon. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Chairman of the Council and also the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim Central, Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire, Mr. Edwin Ekow Blankson, Mrs. Florence Pul, Mr. Kizito Ballans, Ing. Rosby Kome Mensah, Ing. Thomas Atteh, Donkor, Madam Evelyn Keelson, Mr. Kwesi Assan-Brew, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Mark Brako-Appiah, Hon. Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere and GO1, Ms. Faustina Ayereke.
The Minister, who addressed the Board after the inauguration, underscored the role of the GNFS in the country. ‘The Fire Service Council stands as the highest Governing Body of the GNFS. It has such a crucial mandate which is directly connected to saving lives and properties. This goes to demonstrate how important the coming into being and functions of this council is,’ he said.
He disclosed that the Government of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has embarked on a retooling programme for all Security Agencies under the Ministry and therefore GNFS stands to benefit from the programme.
According to the Minister, the issue of inadequate as well as overaged fire engines is a matter of grave concern to the Ministry as well as the Government. He, therefore, urged the Board to prioritize the issue even as the country approaches the last quarter of the year when fires are rampant.
“The job as Council Members requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication. It requires critical considerations, tolerance and respect for all leading to effective consensus-building and the attainment of set goals and targets,” he stated.
Mr. Ambrose Dery encouraged the Council to live up to the confidence reposed in them by his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as the institutions which nominated them to serve on the GNFS Council.
