The Agona West Municipal Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is facing a critical operational challenge as its only fire engine has been out of service for over three months, severely hampering its ability to respond to emergencies.
Deputy Agona West Municipal Fire Commander, DOIII Elizabeth Naana Gaisie, revealed in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Swedru that the station has been forced to rely on a single motorbike to respond to fire calls, a situation that has significantly slowed their response times.
“Our fire engine has been down for over three months, and this has made it extremely difficult for us to respond swiftly to distress calls. We now rely on Winneba and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District stations for support, which leads to dangerous delays due to the distance,” she said.
The Swedru Fire Station covers not only the Agona West Municipality but also extends its operations to the Gomoa Central District, Awutu Bawjiase, and surrounding areas in the Awutu-Senya-West District, further straining its limited resources.
In response, the station has intensified fire safety education campaigns at major markets, shopping malls, supermarkets, and filling stations in an effort to prevent fires before they start.
Despite these efforts, DOIII Gaisie stressed the need for immediate intervention, appealing to Members of Parliament, the Ministry of Interior, local financial institutions, and private individuals to come to their aid.
“We are calling on the MPs for Gomoa Central, Mr. Kwame Asare Obeng; Agona West, Mrs. Ernestina Ofori Dangbey; and Awutu Senya West, Mrs. Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, as well as the Agona West Municipal Assembly and well-meaning citizens of Agonaman to support us in acquiring a new fire engine,” she added.
Nana Kweku Esieni V, Regent of Agona Swedru, also lent his voice to the appeal, urging the Ministry of Interior and local leaders to respond swiftly to the pressing need for a new fire engine.
“The Swedruman Council of Chiefs stands ready to mobilize support from Agonaman citizens at home and abroad to ensure the station gets the necessary resources to protect lives and property,” he said.
Beyond the need for a fire engine, the station also faces accommodation challenges, with the Deputy Fire Commander appealing to the Swedruman Council of Chiefs to release land for the construction of bungalows for personnel.
With the fire engine still grounded, the Agona West Municipal Command remains in a precarious position, relying heavily on external support to keep its firefighting operations running.
