Tarkwa: The Western Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has commissioned a new fire station on the campus of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa. This strategic development is aimed at enhancing emergency response and improving community safety within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.
According to Ghana News Agency, the facility is designed to bolster the operational capabilities of the GNFS, featuring an office for the Divisional Fire Officer, administrative and operational suites, a watch room, crew room, and a common room. The impetus for establishing the new station came from lessons learned from the Appiatse explosion disaster and UMaT's dedication to augmenting campus and community safety.
The management of UMaT has significantly contributed to this initiative by allocating land and providing the necessary infrastructure for the GNFS. Situated strategically on the university campus, the station aims to mitigate delays caused by traffic congestion, thereby reducing response times to fire outbreaks, rescue operations, and road traffic incidents.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Roberta Aggrey Ghanson, Director of Operations at the GNFS, praised UMaT for its proactive approach and investment in constructing the facility. She highlighted that the fire station would support the GNFS's mission to safeguard lives and property and efficiently respond to fire-related emergencies.
DCFO Ghanson assured the university community and local residents that the station would be fully operational to deliver emergency services, conduct safety audits, and enhance public fire safety education. She also appealed to corporate entities and philanthropists for assistance with providing a pickup vehicle for outreach initiatives and accommodation facilities for operational staff.
Before the commissioning ceremony, a GNFS delegation led by Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Cecil B. R. Addo, Western Regional Fire Commander, met with Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, Vice-Chancellor of UMaT. This visit was to convey the Service's gratitude to the university's management and to finalize operational arrangements for the station's effective management.