Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak and others cutting the tape to unveil the vehicles and equipment
Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong says the commissioning of new fire tenders and equipment demonstrates a collective commitment to strengthening Ghana’s emergency response capacity and ensuring the safety of lives, properties and the environment.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, she noted that the Ghana National Fire Service is operating in an increasingly complex environment.
“Urbanisation, industrialisation, increased vehicular traffic, commercial activities and emerging technologies continue to create more challenging fire and emergency risks. These developments require a fire service that is properly equipped, adequately prepared and capable of responding rapidly and professionally to emergencies,” she said.
According to her, the addition of the new vehicles and equipment comes at a crucial time and will enhance operational capabilities, improve mobility and response times, as well as enable personnel to perform their duties more effectively.
“More importantly, they will contribute to our ability to save lives, protect properties and minimise the impact of disasters in our communities,” she stated.
Madam Ntow Sarpong, however, emphasised that equipment alone does not make a professional fire service. “The effectiveness of these resources will depend on the competence, discipline, maintenance culture and commitment of the officers who operate them,” she stressed. She therefore charged all personnel entrusted with the vehicles and equipment to handle them with the highest level of professionalism and responsibility.
The Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, led the commissioning of the fleet of vehicles and operational equipment under the Automated Fire Compliance and Safety System (AFCASS) to boost the Ghana National Fire Service’s (GNFS) operational capacity.
Commissioned in Accra on September 18, 2026, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka said the donation demonstrated the collective commitment of the government and its partners to protecting lives and property.
He said the GNFS played a critical role in Ghana’s security and emergency management system, with its personnel responding to fires, road traffic accidents, disasters and other emergencies, often under difficult conditions.
“Their effectiveness, however, depends not only on their professionalism and courage, but also on access to modern equipment, reliable logistics, and operational tools necessary to respond swiftly and effectively whenever duty calls,” he stated.
Mr. Muntaka said the newly commissioned assets would strengthen the Service’s ability to deliver. “These assets will strengthen operational readiness, improve emergency response time, support firefighting and rescue operations, and enable our personnel to serve the public with even greater efficiency, effectiveness, and professionalism,” he explained.
According to him, investment in emergency response should not be viewed merely as government expenditure but as an investment in public safety, national resilience and sustainable development.
He urged the leadership and personnel of the GNFS to ensure that the newly acquired assets were properly maintained and responsibly deployed. The minister also called on Ghanaians to support the work of the Service by observing fire safety regulations, promoting safety awareness and cooperating with emergency responders.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke & Vera Owusu Sarpong