The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has initiated a comprehensive review of its response to the June 29 floods and multiple fire outbreaks as part of efforts to improve disaster preparedness and enhance future emergency operations.
The post-incident debriefing brought together firefighters who took part in rescue and firefighting operations to evaluate their response, identify operational challenges and draw lessons to guide future interventions.
Chief Fire Officer, Mrs Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sapong, said the exercise was focused on learning and improvement rather than assigning blame, while also acknowledging the dedication of personnel who risked their lives during the emergency.
She praised firefighters for rescuing flood victims and containing fires under extremely difficult conditions, noting that their efforts helped save lives and prevent further destruction.
“Our first duty was to save lives. Many families are alive today because our personnel worked through floodwaters, debris and dangerous conditions with courage and professionalism,” she said.
Mrs Ntow-Sapong said firefighters operated under severe constraints, including flooded roads, power outages and limited accessibility, yet still managed to respond effectively to multiple emergencies.
She explained that the review would assess both strengths and weaknesses in the response, including rapid deployment, logistics gaps, equipment access, traffic coordination, inter-agency communication and personnel welfare.
According to her, the findings would be used to strengthen future disaster response mechanisms and improve national emergency readiness.
“When the next flood or fire occurs, Ghanaians will look to us again, and we must be ready,” she stated.
Speaking after the debriefing, she said the exercise provided an important opportunity to critically evaluate operations and improve efficiency within the Service.
She also highlighted poor accessibility and adverse weather conditions as key operational challenges and called for improved logistics and equipment to support emergency response.
Mrs Ntow-Sapong commended community members for assisting firefighters during operations, noting that public cooperation played a significant role in managing the emergencies.
The Accra Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Grade One Kwame Rashid Nisawo, described the debriefing as a historic first for the Service, saying it marked a new approach to disaster response evaluation.
He praised the Chief Fire Officer for initiating what he called an unprecedented exercise that brought personnel together to openly reflect on their experiences and develop strategies for the future.
