Fijai: Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has described as troubling several incidents of attacks on firefighters in their line of duty.
According to Ghana News Agency, firefighters were not just emergency responders but were men and women who risked their lives to safeguard lives and properties from fire destructions, and that any attack on them in the discharge of their mandates was a sabotage on public safety. He made these remarks during a durbar organized by the Western Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to mark this year's International Firefighters Day (IFFD) celebration.
The event was held at the forecourt of the Regional Fire Headquarters in Fijai, with a theme emphasizing the importance of protecting firefighters and their equipment: 'An attack on firefighters and equipment is attack on public safety: End Assaults and Protect the Firefighter.' Mr. Nelson emphasized that this theme highlighted not only the safety of firefighters but also the safety of every citizen in the Western Region and beyond.
Mr. Nelson remarked, 'Firefighters are men and women who run towards danger when others are fleeing, and whether it is a raging market fire, an industrial explosion, a road traffic accident, or a domestic emergency, they stand between disaster and survival.' He expressed concern over the hostility, obstruction, and physical assaults that these individuals sometimes face while performing their duties.
He further stated, 'Let me state unequivocally that any attack on a firefighter is an attack on all of us, and when a fire tender is stoned, delayed, or denied access, it is not just equipment being damaged, but lives being put at risk.' He urged citizens to fully cooperate with fire officers during emergencies by giving way to fire tenders, avoiding crowding incident scenes, and refraining from acts of vandalism or aggression.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) II David Asah Darko, the Western Regional Fire Commander, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the increasing cases of verbal and physical assaults on firefighters and the destruction of life-saving equipment pose a threat to public safety. He called for a cultural shift towards respecting and protecting firefighters, encouraging the public to exercise restraint and empathy during emergency responses.
International Firefighters Day (IFFD), observed on May 04 annually, honors and celebrates the selfless and dedicated sacrifices and services of firefighters around the world. The event was marked by a minute's silence for the departed, the hoisting of flags, and the laying of coins in remembrance of fallen heroes.