Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service

The Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) is an agency under the Ghanaian Ministry of the Interior, constituting Ghana's nationwide fire service. It was established under Act 219 to Extinguish fires and provide humanitarian services and re-established by Act 537 in 1997 with a broad objective of prevention and management of undesired fires and other related matters.[1] That includes inspection of high rise and commercial buildings equipped with the necessary fire engineering, Organize and education the public on the hazards of fire, Road Traffic extrication and other matters related.

Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service

Agency overview
Established	1997[1]
Employees	18,000
Staffing	6,000 management and support staff; 800 communications centre staff
Fire chief	Edwin Ekow Blankson
Facilities and equipment
Stations	140

Functions

The National Fire and Rescue Service was set up to perform the following functions:[1]

Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) Firefighters. Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) Fire Engines. Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) Rapid Intervention Fire Tender. Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) Rapid Intervention Fire Tender. Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) Rapid Intervention Firefighters Firefighting.

Organise public fire education programmes to: Create and sustain awareness of the hazards of fire; and Heighten the role of the individual in the prevention of fires Provide technical advice for building plans in respect of machinery and structural layouts to facilitate escape from fire, rescue operations and fire management; Inspect and offer technical advice on fire extinguishers; Co-ordinate and advise on the training of personnel in fire fighting departments institutions in the country; Offer rescue and evacuation services to those trapped by fire or in other emergency situations and Train and organize fire volunteer squads at community level; Undertake any other function incidental to the objective of the Service.

Change in name of the Ghana fire service

In March 2010, it was announced that the Ghana National Fire Service was to change its name to the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service. The new mandate of the service was to operate both fire and ambulance services.[2]

References

1. "Ghana National Fire Service". Government of Ghana. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
2. "Ghana National Fire Service to change mandate". Ghana Business News. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 6 May 2011.