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‘Firefighting is shared responsibility’
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Since firefighting is a shard responsibility, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Upper West Region has called for the establishment of Bush Fire Prevention Committee at the district and regional levels respectively.
The command maintained that the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) Law 229 which established the GNFS made provision for the setting up of such committees to facilitate the prevention and combating of accidental fires at the district and regional levels effectively.
In an interview with The Spectator Newspaper at Wa on Tuesday, the Regional Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Mr. Abraham Nii Dodoo said successful firefighting relied on joint efforts of the GNFS and other institutions.
“The Law 229 directs every District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly to form these committees with stakeholders from the assembly, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) or Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Electricity Company of Ghana which in our case will be the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), a representative from the traditional council and two other appointed members, with the District Chief Executive as the Chairman of the committee”, he said.
He noted that a similar team was supposed to be replicated at the regional level where information about fire safety from the district level was brought to the fore for redress and said the collaboration among the aforementioned stakeholders was very paramount in firefighting.
“So for instance the GWCL or the CWSA is responsible for the provision of fire tenders at vantage points to enable the GNFS draw water when the need arises to fight fire hence a committee of that nature would ensure that we work together to identify key areas where the tenders will be needed as well as work on existing fire tenders with low pressure,” he explained.
He stated again that traditional authorities also had the responsibility of assisting the service to engage community members on the dangers of bush fires and their implication on the local economy.
“These committees when established will boost our collaboration with other stakeholders and ensure that we work collectively to prevent and fight accidental fires”, he said.
He stressed that most importantly the GNFS was inaugurating fire safety volunteers in the region who could depend on the support of the bush fire committees for the supply of some basic implements they needed for the work.
“These volunteers as their title suggests are not paid but a little motivation from the assemblies within which they are located will boost their ability to work harder for the district. We as a service can only provide them, with wellington boots and identification cards, among others but when it comes to fuel and other petty items such as whistles, the district assembly can dedicate a little of its common fund to support and make them more effective”, he said.
He appealed to the MMDAs in the region to prioritise the setting up of those committees in order to support firefighting agenda in the region.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
