Sege (Near Tema), July 16. GNA — The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Sege District Command in the Greater Accra Region has organised a send-off party for its first and immediate past District Commander, Divisional Officer Grade I (DOI) Esther Dickson Addo.
DO I Addo joined the GNFS through Table Tennis and played for the Fire Service during her fourth year at Osu Presbyterian Secondary School in 1982 and won a Gold Medal at the Security Service Sports Association Games (SESSA) in 1991.
She was the first female to have headed the district and was chosen to be the Acting District Fire Officer for Sege Fire Station on June 27, 2018, when the station was commissioned, and later confirmed as District Fire Commander on August 1, 2019, until her retirement on April 10, 2022.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Adjoteye Lawer Akrofi, the immediate past Ada West District Chief Executive (DCE) whose tenure DO I Addo commenced work was full of praise for her diligent service to the district and congratulated her for the good works she spearheaded towards protecting the district from fire outbreaks.
“I commend DO I Addo for her selfless and meritorious service to the people of Ada West. Indeed, she worked towards the welfare of all of us and I assure her that we shall forever be grateful to her,” he said.
He admonished the officers of the Service to give off their best irrespective of the challenges they faced to protect lives and property in the Ada West District and its environs.
Mr Sampson Tetteh Kpankpah Ada West District Chief Executive in a speech read on his behalf described the past Fire Commander as exceptional and a mentor to the personnel of the fire station.
“It gives me great satisfaction to congratulate you on your 33 good years of work with the GNFS and wish you a relaxing and rewarding retirement. I am sure we all recognise, respect, and appreciate your valuable contributions to the Fire Service,” he said.
Divisional Officer Grade III, Boamah Biney, the new District Commander also commended the outgoing DO I Addo for her contribution toward firefighting adding that indeed she proved that “what men can do, women can also do.
“Since assuming office, I have realised the task of work ahead of me, because DO I Addo have raised the bar so high for me. Her name is still mentioned, and memories recounted wherever I go in the district.”
The District Commander called on the Assembly and the government to provide the district with a befitting and standard security regiment where they could have an adaptable environment to work as firefighters.
They were currently in a wooden structure provided by the Ada West District Assembly.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, DO I Esther Dickson Addo thanked all who helped her, the gallant Sege personnel, and urged them to continue working vigorously through team work.
The Sege Fire Station also retired Mr. Reuben Kpatey, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade II, a pioneer of Ada Fire Station in 1995 who also served tirelessly and meticulously for the GNFS till he retired at the Sege Fire Station.
GNA