FIRE VOLUNTEERS SQUAD LAUNCHED AT MAWANINSO

As part of efforts to help curb the outbreaks of bush fires during this year’s harmattan season, the Social Development and Improvement Agency (SODIA) a Non Governmental Organization in the Tano South District in collaboration with Concern Universal also an Accra based NGO, the District Fire Service and the Tano South District Assembly have Launched a Fire Volunteer Squad at Mawaninso a community in the Tano South District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

Speaking at the function, the District Director of the Non-Formal Education Division Mr. NNN Acheampong who stood in for the District Chief Executive for Tano South Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba commended SODIA and Concern Universal for such a good initiative. He said bush fires if not checked can lead to the loss of properties, unemployment and most importantly kill nutrients in farm lands thereby leading to poverty and famine in the community and the nation as a whole. Mr. Acheampong revealed that the government has plans of providing basic amenities like construction of school buildings, feeder roads and provision of portable water to the Mawaninso community and that it therefore behooves on the people to rally behind the government to bring this dream into reality. He entreated the people to give the needed support to the Fire Volunteer Squad so that bush fires would be prevented in the community. He also hinted that the District Chief Executive on behalf of the Tano South District Assembly have donated Ten (10) Wellington boots and cutlasses to the Fire Volunteers to enhance their work.

The Programmes Officer of SODIA, Mr. Prince Gyamfi outlined some programmes being undertaken by the NGO to help reduce disasters such as rainstorms, erosion, bush fires and deforestation. He therefore stated that a Fire Disaster Committee made up of the National Commission for Civic Education, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the District Fire Service have been set up to help find ways to prevent disasters in the Tano South District. Mr. Gyamfi also revealed that the NGO’s thematic areas for the year included HIV/AIDS Education, Women Empowerment, Rainstorm and Bush Fire prevention. He said three communities made up of Breme, Ohianinguase and Mawaninso were chosen to commence the programme whiles some patriotic volunteers were therefore trained and educated on how to use basic fire fighting equipments to curb fires in case of any eventuality.

On his part the District Fire Officer for Tano South and North Districts Mr. Tekyi Kyereme enumerated some causes of bush fires such as burning of charcoal, hunting, tapping of palm wine and indiscriminate throwing of lighted cigarettes into bushes. He made it known that to protect our river bodies, farms should be three hundred (300) yards away from river banks. Mr. Tekyi Kyereme also noted that it was illegal to use plumbing machines in rivers to irrigate crops and entreated farmers not to burn their bushes from November 2009 to the end of March 2010. He further urged the volunteers to indulge in other gainful venture so as to generate revenue to support themselves.

Speaking at the function, the District National Disaster Management Organization Director Mr. Christian Tetteh commended the volunteers for offering to

serve their community. He therefore entreated them to be of good behavior and approach the task given them with all seriousness. He said the identity cards given them attest to their membership of the squad and must not be used for any fraudulent act. He therefore entreated all hunters, palm wine tappers and ch

arcoal burners to seek permission from the Fire Volunteers Squad before going about their various activities and further revealed that recalcitrant who disobey this directive and cause bush fire would be imprisoned for three (3) years or attracts a penalty not less than Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500).

In a speech, the Odikro of Mawaninso who chaired the occasion Nana Kwadwo Boahene comm

ended SODIA and the other partners for selecting Mawininso for such a good initiative. He therefore pleaded for support and sustenance of the Fire Volunteers Squad so that they can work harder to help curb bush fi

res in the area and the Tano South District as a whole.