Tropenbos Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has engaged major stakeholders under the Fire Resilient Landscape programme in Ghana to deliberate on how best to prevent and manage fire outbreaks especially in forest reserves.
The engagement which was under the theme: “Achieving Inclusive Fire/Wildfire Management in Ghana,” brought together officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Cocoa Health and Extension Division, Forestry Service Division, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), traditional authorities, Physical Planning officers, and district assembly representatives.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Philip Kudzo Amagnoh, of the GNFS, after the engagement, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that fire fighting was a shared responsibility and that everyone must get involved to defeat the effects of fire outbreaks especially within forest reserves.
He also called on Ghanaians to follow the rules and regulations governing the protection of the forest to help protect the country’s food security.
He stated that the GNFS had deployed fire volunteers in every district within the Western North Region, and asked residents to engage them whenever they wanted to burn their farmlands.
He said that would help reduce fire outbreaks especially within forest areas.
ACFO Amagnoh also assured of their continued education of the volunteers on best practices on fire fighting, saying; “We should not only consider the economic gains but also the interest of all and protect the forest for future generations.”
Mr Joseph Asante, the Programme Manager at Tropenbos Ghana, called on all to take the issues of forest protection seriously.
He was hopeful that the engagement would help protect forest reserves from fire outbreaks.
He also advised Ghanaians to always ensure measures were put in place to stop fire outbreaks at all levels in order to protect lives and properties.
Nana Kwasi Gyabeng II, the Chief of Denkyemoasuo, who chaired the engagement, encouraged traditional rulers to take active roles in firefighting.
Some of the participants in an interview with the GNA lauded the engagement, and pledged their commitment to educate others within their communities.
Some also called on religious and traditional leaders to always educate their members on the need to be fire conscious so that the message would get to more people to help achieve the desired results.
GNA
