To have an entire house which took months to build destroyed in almost an instant by fire is a sad truth that many have had to deal with. Fires are almost unpredictable and can be caused by many factors including faulty electrical wiring, gas explosions and in most cases, our own negligence. In an effort to control fires and save tens of thousands of cedis worth of real estate, the Government set up the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) with the mandate to prevent and manage undesired fires which lead to loss of lives and property.

The most recent instance of the Ghana National Fire Service was established in 1997 (The Ghana National Fire Service Act, 1997) ACT 537. The Ghana National Fire Service, as it was known for many years, was changed to the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service (GNFRS) in March of 2010. This was in an attempt to have the GNFRS operate both fire and ambulance services.

The Functions of the Ghana National Fire Service

The Ghana Fire Service is under the Ministry of the Interior and functions under that jurisdiction. The Ghana National Fire Service has specific functions which guide the day-to-day operations of the organisation. Below are the functions:

1. Organise public education programmes to create and sustain awareness of hazards of fire, and heighten the role of the individual in the prevention of fire;
2. Provide technical advice for building plans in respect of machinery and structural layouts to facilitate escape during fire rescue operations and fire management;
3. Inspect and offer technical advice on fire extinguishers;
4. Co-ordinate and advise on the training of personnel in firefighting departments of Institutions in the Country;
5. Train and organise fire volunteer squads at the community level;
6. Offer rescue and evacuation services to those trapped by fire or in other emergency situations; and
7. Undertake any other function incidental to the objective of the service.

Recruitment to the Ghana National Fire & Rescue Service

Recruitment to the GNFRS is normally a very competitive one as thousands of people sign up for the available roles. The entire process begins with the purchase of the form. You can get a Ghana Fire Service e-voucher which can be gotten from any GCB bank for GH¢ 50. 

Once you have the e-voucher, you just need to go to the recruitment website and fill the form that will be displayed there. There are specific times within the year when applications are open to the public so always keep abreast with any new development on the GNFRS website. 

Before you apply, you should always check to see if you meet all the eligibility requirements.

Once you are accepted into the Ghana National Fire Service, you should be receiving all the necessary resources like the Ghana Fire Service Uniforms, Ghana Fire Service Salary etc.

Ghana Fire Service Locations in Accra

The Ghana Fire Service locations are situated in areas that are deemed as central locations. There is at least one fire station within each region of Ghana. In a major city like Accra, there are about 17 fire stations. Here are the locations of the fire stations within Accra.

1. Accra City (Makola Market)
2. Industrial Area (State Transport yard)
3. Madina (REDCO Flats)
4. Legon ( Near the School of Performing Arts)
5. Trade Fair (Trade fair site La.)
6. Dansoman (Dansoman Market)
7. Amasaman (Ga west municipal Assembly premises)
8. Adjen Kotoku (Near the Kotoku Railway Station)
9. Weija (GICEL Estates)
10. Flagstaff House (Office of the President)
11. Castle (Osu)
12. Korle-Bu (Near the Morgue)
13. Ledzokuku Krowor (Nungua)
14. Adentan (Housing down shopping mall)
15. RHQ Sub Station (Same premises as Korle-Bu Commercial Bank)
16. Training School Fire Station (Fire Academy and Training School-James Town)
17. Abelemkpe Fire Station (National Security Council Secretariat premises)

When you are buying or renting a property, it will always be a good thing to have a fire station close to your property.

The Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service can be contacted on the following numbers and addresses:

Emergency Toll-free numbers: 192, 0302772446, 0299340383

Address: The Chief Fire Officer, Ghana National Fire Service, P.O. Box 4129, Cantonments, Accra.

Website: http://www.gnfs.gov.gh/