The Ghana National Fire Service has, so far this year, recorded 573 bushfires. This represents a 27.5 percent reduction in the 791 cases recorded within the same period in 2022.
The highest number of cases was recorded in January 2023, which is 227, while October had the lowest with three.
The Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Mr. Julius A. Kuunuor, revealed this during the 2023–2024 National Bush Fire Prevention campaign launch held in Nsawam on Thursday with the theme “60 Years of Existence: Bush Fire Prevention—Key to Sustaining Our Natural Resources and Food Security.”
The campaign is aimed at reminding Ghanaians of their responsibility to preserve and protect the country’s natural resources and heritage and secure the foundation of food resources.
CFO Kuunuor said through the collective efforts of the National Fire Service in sensitizing the populace on bushfire prevention and control, the Service has recorded a decrease in bushfire cases by 218, representing 27.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022.
He said that despite the reduction in numbers, bush fire continues to pose a significant threat to the country’s environment and has destroyed vast areas of vegetation, wildlife habitats and farmlands.
He emphasized that bushfire prevention was not a mere directive but a fundamental necessity to sustain the country’s precious natural resources and ensure food security for generations to come.
For his part, the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, said that the decrease was welcoming but indicated that the numbers recorded have not shielded the country from the wrath of bushfires as a considerable amount of food from farms, economic plants and wildlife have been lost to these fires.
He called on Ghanaians to allow the launch to awaken their sense of patriotism and collectively help to protect the forest from bushfires and other negative occurrences.
“Let us all do our bit to augment the efforts of the Fire Service and our dutiful Bush Fire volunteers who stand on the frontlines risking their lives to safeguard our,” he said and added that Ghanaians should eschew negative practices that lead to bushfires.
Before the campaign, there was a float on the principal streets of Nsawam led by the Director of Logistics, Heroine Boakye, Deputy Director of Rural Fire Hard ing-Bruce and the Eastern Regional Fire Officer, ACFOI Jennifer Naa Yardley Quaye.
Three hundred and fifty personnel from fire stations in the Eastern Region participated in the float which was proceeded by a quiz competition among some junior high schools in the country.
