Konongo, Nkawie, and the likes of Ahafo face the threat of significant property damage in the event of a fire outbreak.

This comes after the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) threatened to boycott or blacklist certain areas over the incessant attacks on their firefighters.

This statement comes in the wake of an incident on Saturday, February 10, in Konongo, where angry residents alleged that fire officers responded late to a fire outbreak. This led to an attack on the officers and damage to a fire tender.

During a media briefing on Thursday, February 22, GNFS Public Relations Officer (PRO) ADO 1 Alex King Nartey highlighted that outdated equipment contributes to response delays.

He emphasised that many fire tenders are between 15 and 20 years old, posing a significant concern.

“The unfortunate thing is that we always say that our logistics are very lacking. Most of our fire tenders are between 15, and 20 years old, a very worrying situation. As I speak to you now, Kasoa and Weija, their tender fighting is out of commission, so if there’s any fire at Kasoa, the appliance will either have to move from Anyaa or Budumburam, that’s very bad.

“So it means that if there is any fire within the Budumburam area, and one of the Budumburam probably attended to that fire, it means we have to call a much further appliance, probably from Dansoman, to attend to it. So you see the little appliances that we have left, we are trying to salvage them."

Nartey reported further assaults on fire officers in Ahafo and Nkawie, leading to injuries requiring hospitalisation. Given these ongoing challenges, the GNFS is considering the possibility of boycotting areas where their personnel are at risk of assault.

“So it becomes very appalling when they turn to put their frustration on us. So what we are deciding to do is embark on a boycott on areas that are known to always want to attack our men because, as we speak, a few days after this report was made, another attack happened to our men at Ahafo. Three or four have been hospitalised, and I’m even hearing at Nkawie, another issue has happened.”

To salvage this, Mr Nartey called on the government to ensure timely procurement and supply of new equipment as well as construct more fire stations nationwide.

Assembly leaders were also called on to educate their residents about fire safety.