The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has threatened to blacklist communities that manhandle or attack their officers in the line of duty.
This follows a two consecutive incident at Konongo, within the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region where unidentified individuals incensed by the alleged delay in the Fire Service’s response to a fire emergency resorted to pelting the fire tenders with stones.
Fire officers from Konongo were deployed to a fire scene near Nkwakwa. While at the scene, they received another distress call and had to rush back to Konongo township, as the only fire engine serves several communities.
However, the residents, unhappy about the officers’ delayed arrival at the scene, began pelting stones and other offensive items at the crew.
They caused damage to the fire engine, leaving the fire officers traumatized.
Commenting on the attack journalist today, A.D.O.1 Alex King Nortey said areas where fire service personnel are attacked in the course of their duties are often blacklisted.
This means that, in the event of future fires outbreaks, Fire Service personnel will not be dispatched to the affected area until authorities address the challenge.