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The Committee on Defence and Interior Engages Ghana National Fire Service Over Operational Crisis
The Committee on Defence and Interior held a crucial engagement with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to discuss urgent challenges threatening the operations of the service.
The Director of Finance at GNFS, D.C.F.O Mark Brako Appiah disclosed that many of their fire tenders are over 22 years old and no longer supported with spare parts locally, raising fears of a possible shutdown by the end of the year if the situation is not addressed.
He also pointed to the public’s disregard for fire safety protocols, such as sleeping near gas cylinders and the lack of escape routes in most buildings, which he said contributes significantly to fire-related deaths.
In addition to the ageing equipment, the service is grappling with a shortage of command and utility vehicles, lack of fire stations in key areas, and limited access to functional hydrants.
These limitations, he explained, not only affect emergency response times but also discourage investors from entering underserved regions.
Personnel health was also highlighted as a concern, with many suffering from prolonged exposure to smoke during rescue operations.
Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sarpong acknowledged a decline in public trust and assured the Committee that efforts are underway to improve internal discipline, training, and professionalism among staff.
She also addressed concerns about fire tenders arriving at scenes without water, attributing the issue to the lack of hydrants in some communities.
The Committee, led by the chairman, James Agalga, pledged to present its findings and recommendations to Parliament to help strengthen the Service and ensure it remains fit for its mandate of safeguarding life and property.
Music producer M.O.G Beatz has confirmed that the copyright infringement issue between him and musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah has been fully resolved.
In a statement released on Thursday, 11 December 2025, he described the resolution as an important step toward protecting creative work and promoting fairness in the music industry.
He noted that the matter had been settled peacefully and expressed optimism about stronger respect for artistic rights going forward.
M.O.G Beatz thanked his legal team for their support during the process.
He expressed gratitude to Mr. Seidu and Mr. Kojo Spio for their guidance and encouragement, adding that many others stood by him and helped underline the importance of safeguarding the rights of creators.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Global Africa Summit: Jane Reindorf urges policy makers to remove barriers discouraging investment
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Investment Network, Jane Reindorf, has urged policy makers to remove barriers that discourage investment in Ghana.
She made the appeal during the two-day Global Africa Summit held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra from December 11-12.
The Global Africa Summit is an initiative of the Africa Investment Network designed to unite Africa and its global diaspora under a shared vision of economic collaboration and sustainable development.
The summit provides a platform for governments, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss opportunities that can accelerate growth across the continent.
Held in major cities across the world, the summit focuses on promoting trade, investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
It also highlights the critical role of diaspora capital and partnerships in unlocking Africa’s potential in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, agriculture, finance, tourism, and the creative economy.
Reindorf speaking to journalists at the summit, explained that the forum was created to explore opportunities for trade and investment in Ghana across different sectors.
She noted that although the country was showing visible development, a more supportive environment would help attract and retain investors, especially those from the diaspora.
She observed that people in the diaspora come to Ghana through different experiences and journeys, and a friendly business climate would help sustain their interest.
She stressed that investors mainly look for places where their capital can grow and make meaningful impact.
In her view, cultural attitudes, politics, and personal biases sometimes block opportunities in Ghana even though investors focus more on the strength of business prospects than on political issues.
She pointed out that a diaspora investor with about 200 million dollars could easily choose Kenya or South Africa if Ghana failed to create a favourable environment.
For her, government must work to keep investment coming into Ghana instead of losing it to other countries.
Reindorf shared that the next day of the summit would include reflections on the event and discussions on investment opportunities in Africa’s “sixth region,” the diaspora.
She explained that these conversations would look at how remittances can be turned into productive investments rather than being used only for family support.
She added that entrepreneurs would present bankable projects to both in-person and virtual investors as part of efforts to link ideas with funding.
She described this as the moment “the magic happens,” and expressed appreciation for the support of the network’s investment partner, John Morris.
Reindorf highlighted that African Americans, Brazilians, and Caribbean communities form a strong base of potential investors.
She said the Africa Investment Network hopes to engage these groups and direct their interest toward Ghana by building the right platform.
She noted that during her first visit to Ghana, she assessed the market and saw clear potential to attract investment through stocks, bonds, projects, and direct ventures.
She explained that this was the type of platform the organisation aims to strengthen to support Ghana’s investment drive.
By: Jacob Aggrey
