The Interior Minister, has announced plans to introduce a dedicated fuel purchase levy to retool and enhance the Ghana National Fire Service’s (GNFS) operational capacity.
Muntaka Mubarak, stated that he is drafting a bill to introduce a levy on petroleum products to establish a dedicated fund for retooling the GNFS.
He made this announcement during a visit to Adum PZ, where a recent fire had ravaged a four-storey commercial building, destroying goods worth millions of cedis.
The deductions on each litre of fuel purchased by the public, would be utilised to procure fire tenders and other essential equipment required by the Service to improve efficiency.
Addressing the press at the scene of the fire on Wednesday March 26, the MP for Asawase, highlighted successive governments’ glaring neglect of the Service, despite its crucial role in the country.
According to him, the last time the country purchased a fire tender for the GNFS was in 2014.
“When I took office at the Interior Ministry, I realised that the newest fire tender was procured in 2014. That is over ten years ago. We all know the rigorous nature of their work, and within six or seven years, such equipment becomes obsolete. Yet, the newest fire tender in operation is more than a decade old,” he revealed.
“For the past ten years, not a single fire tender has been purchased. Sometimes, we unfairly blame the fire officers when, in reality, they are working with obsolete equipment. They face immense frustration themselves,” he added.
Mubarak disclosed that his office was drafting a bill to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration.
“I am preparing a proposal for the Cabinet to allocate 10 pesewas per litre of fuel towards firefighting efforts. Even if we can set aside five pesewas per litre, it would create a dedicated fund to support fire services,” he explained.
The proposal comes in the wake of a devastating fire at Adum-PZ in Kumasi, which caused extensive losses to businesses.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Minister, accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, and the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), visited the affected site.
Their visit was crucial in assessing the scale of destruction and engaging with traders who had been severely impacted by the disaster.
Acknowledging the emotional and financial toll on victims, Mr Mubarak, assured them of the government’s unwavering support. “This is a difficult time for many traders here, and we want to assure them that the government is committed to helping them recover,” he stated.
In response to the immediate needs of those affected, the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with NADMO, provided relief items, including 1,500 bags of rice, 800 boxes of cooking oil, and 1,000 boxes of soap. Officials stated that these provisions were intended to alleviate some of the hardships faced by victims and restore a sense of normalcy.
The proposed fuel levy is expected to bolster the GNFS, ensuring that future fire outbreaks are managed swiftly and effectively. Many observers believe this initiative could significantly improve nationwide fire prevention and response efforts.
Community leaders representing the affected traders expressed gratitude for the government’s swift intervention, pledging to use the relief items effectively as they work towards rebuilding their businesses. This latest development underscores the importance of proactive governance in times of crisis and the necessity of implementing sustainable measures to prevent such disasters from recurring.