Govt to Introduce a Levy on Fuel to Equip Fire Service
The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, says he is drafting a bill to introduce a levy on petroleum products to establish a dedicated fund to retool the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
He announced this during a visit to Adum PZ where a recent fire ravaged a commercial four-storey building, consuming millions of cedis.
The deductions on each litre procured by the public would be used to purchase fire tenders and other essential equipment needed by the Service to increase efficiency.
Addressing the press at the scene of the fire on March 26, the MP for Asawase highlighted the glaring neglect of the Service by governments despite its crucial role in the country.
According to him, the country last purchased a fire tender for the GNFS in 2014.
“When I went to the Interior, I realised that the newest tender was procured in 2014. That is more than ten years. You and I know the way they run and in about six or seven years, they become obsolete yet the newest tender we have is more than ten years old.”
“The whole ten years we have not bought even a single fire tender. So sometimes we all blame the fire officers for nothing because they are using obsolete equipment. They go through so much frustration themselves,” he added.
Hon Mubarak disclosed that his office was drafting the bill to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration.
“I’m doing a paper to the cabinet to dedicate 10 pesewas per litre for fire…If we can do even five pesewas on a litre, it means we will have a dedicated fund to support fire.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
