By Emmanuella Owusu, GNA
Tema, Oct. 22, GNA – The Tema Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists and the general public to support efforts to address water supply and infrastructure challenges affecting its operations.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer I (ACFO I) Patrick N. Sallah, Tema Regional Commander, made the appeal at the commissioning and handover of a refurbished 40-foot container office donated by Trustlink Ghana Limited to the Command’s Regional Headquarters in Tema.
The facility, equipped with air conditioning, office furniture, a television and storage cabinets, was provided following a request by the Command to address office accommodation deficits.
ACFO Sallah expressed gratitude to Trustlink Ghana Limited for the donation, describing it as a corporate social responsibility gesture, and assured the company that the facility would be put to good use.
He identified inadequate water supply as the Command’s biggest operational challenge, saying firefighters frequently encountered broken, empty or low-pressure hydrants during emergency responses.
He said the situation sometimes forced fire engines to travel long distances to replenish their water tanks while fires continued to destroy lives and property.
“When we respond to fire outbreaks and our water gets exhausted, we often have to travel significant distances to get water,” he said.
He explained that such delays could lead to public perceptions of inefficiency, although firefighters faced logistical constraints beyond their immediate control.
To address the challenge, ACFO Sallah said the Command had conducted feasibility assessments for the construction of dedicated boreholes with high-capacity storage tanks at the Regional Headquarters and the Tema Industrial Area.
He said the facilities would provide more reliable access to water and reduce the time fire engines spent travelling to replenish their tanks during emergencies.
The Regional Commander also appealed for financial and material assistance to complete two ongoing infrastructure projects: a washroom and multi-storey office complex at the Regional Headquarters, currently at the foundation stage, and a community fire station at Klagon, which has reached the flooring stage.
He said completing the Klagon station would decentralise emergency responses and enable firefighters to reach nearby communities more quickly.
ACFO Sallah urged corporate institutions and individuals to emulate Trustlink Ghana Limited by supporting the GNFS to improve emergency response and safety across the industrial hub.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Linda Asante Agyei