The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is said to be facing serious financial challenges due to delayed release of funds by the government.<\/p>\n
A report by Parliament\u2019s committee responsible for Defense and Interior on the budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Interior indicates that the GNFS owes GHC 419, 535.30 for fuel and has an outstanding bill of GHC 750, 677.50 for the National Health Insurance premium.<\/p>\n
It also stated that the Service lacks the needed logistics to undertake its duties<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”r6mhR6QeqFCIi8d0OVRtRdNgEjAeyWmp”]The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina and the Council Chair for GNFS, Dr. Ahmed Amadu Sorogho on Eyewitness News<\/strong> admitted that although government is supporting the operations of the Service, \u201cthere is more to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n He narrated that the Service has been purchasing fuel from recognized service stations \u201cand at any time that we run short of fuel and we go there, definitely, they are prepared to give us but that is not the best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need money to be able to run, we need money for fuel but we are not saying that government is not providing,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n Alhaji Sorogho also admitted that the GNFS owe some fuel filling stations, \u201cthe outstanding is there and we have been promised that it will be cleared and next year\u2019s budget will be taken care of\u201d and expressed the hope that the government will honour its promise.<\/p>\n He however quick to add that as and when his outfit makes any request through the Ministry of Interior, if the funds are available, \u201cthey will give us but I will say that we need more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been assured by the Minister that they will do whatever it takes to make sure that the necessary support that has to be given is provided so that we can continue to do the work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want the Finance Ministry to look back and know that if we cannot protect properties and citizens from fire, it is not the best,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Accoridng to him, the GNFS is not the only state institution which is receiving inadequate funding from the government.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cRunning cost has as a result gone up\u2026we will not say what we want we are getting but we also know that it is not a disease that is only affecting the Fire Service and for that matter the Interior Ministry, other government agencies have also suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n The Council Chair for GNFS assured the citizenry that \u201cwhat we need to run, we are getting it. I can assure you that anytime there is fire, the Fire Service will be quick to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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