The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has responded to critical comments made by Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene following a major fire at Adum in Kumasi on March 21, 2025.

The fire, which erupted in a commercial building near the Adum Central Market, caused extensive damage to numerous shops and properties, with traders left to assess significant financial losses. Firefighters worked diligently to contain the blaze, though the response was met with some public criticism.

During his visit to the scene, Dr. Amoakohene expressed frustration upon discovering what he perceived as an idle fire tender, questioning why the vehicle was parked without water. “If there is no water in the tender, what is it doing here?” he asked the firefighters present, urging them to communicate their challenges more openly.

In a rebuttal, GNFS spokesperson Alex King Nartey responded by emphasizing that firefighting requires more than just public outbursts. “Action is not achieved by shouting or creating a spectacle,” Nartey said in an interview with GHOne TV. He noted that the minister, well aware of the service’s challenges, had previously pledged to address the issue of malfunctioning fire tenders but had yet to fulfill that promise. “This is not the first time the issue has been raised,”Mr. Nartey added, referring to discussions during a March 6 cleaning exercise.

Mr.Nartey stressed that effective firefighting depends on adequate resources, not just public criticisms. “Shouting does not extinguish fires. We have the experience and expertise, but without the right tools, our efforts are limited,” he stated, pointing to a recent successful fire response at Kantamanto as an example of how resources directly impact the outcome.

As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, the focus remains on addressing the underlying resource constraints faced by the fire service.

Source:TheDotNews