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Carelessness, negligence cause of increased fire outbreak cases in UWR – GNFS

The Upper West Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has attributed the rise in cases of fire outbreaks in the region on the carelessness and negligence of residents and organisations to adhere to fire safety rules.

This, according toUpper West Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer II (ACFOII) Isaac Kofi Obosuwas inspite of the numerous door- to – door sensitisation on fire safety by the Command,fire cases this year surpassed the figure for last year.

He said the region recorded a total of 116 fire incidents from January to date alone, as against 106 cases of similar fire outbreaks last year representing a 9.43 percent increment.

ACFO II Obosu further said the situation has led to the loss of property estimated at GH₵1,074,357  whereas the Service was able to salvage an estimate of GH₵1,025,224 items from getting destroyed by fires this year.

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“Most of the fire cases recorded this year was as a result of negligence, to fire safety measures by victims, people are throwing garbage, cigarette butts and mishandle of flammable materials anywhere without thinking of the consequences,’’ he said.

The Regional Fire Service Commander was speaking to the Ghanaian Times here yesterday in an exclusive interview on cases of fire outbreaks in the region from last year to date.

“Negligence in fire protection should be taken seriously and avoided at all costs by ensuring regular maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems, we are always on the lookout for some of these things, and what we normally do is to educate the general public in whatever means or form”, he said.

The Upper West Region Fire Commander mentioned carelessness and ignorance while handling electric power appliances were some of the causes of the fires in the region.

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‘’We go to the mosques, we go to the churches, lorry parks and markets places to spread the gospel of fire safety but residents and organisations are just reluctant Irrespective of whatever you tell them, they do what they feel is right”, he lamented.

According to ACFO II Obosu, almost all the fire incidents that occurred in the region were preventable if only people adhered to the fire safety protocols.

Fire safety, he said was a shared responsibility and called on the public to cooperate with the Command to carry out its mandate to reduce the occurrences of fire outbreaks in the region.

ACFO II Obosu encouraged various institutions to work with the GNFS when putting up structures to ensure they were fire compliant to prevent fires outbreaks.

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He said the Command would continue to create and sustain awareness of the public on fire prevention and safety measures and implored resident to be abreast with all the emergency numbers and also visit the nearest Fire Station within their locality to get their direct emergency numbers.

He has therefore, called on all to join hands with the GNFS and also observe basic safety fire preventive measures to help reduce fire incidents in the region.

FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK WA

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

Nutritionists have advised Ghanaians to eat more beans-based meals, including the popular local dish, gari and beans, also known as ‘Gobe’ to prevent heart diseases. They said incidenc­es of obesity and cancer could be minimised with the regular intake of beans meals.

At a programme in Accra to mark the World Pulses ( Beans) Day on Monday, Mr Wise Chukudi Letsa, Nu­tritionist and Dietician, who spoke on the topic: ‘Beans: The Super Food for Healthy Living and Healthy Farmlands,’ admonished Ghanaians to include beans in their diets.

Mr Letsa said beans was rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, miner­als, irons and other nutrients and contained just a little fat. Mr Letsa, a Nutritionist with Lets Consult, stated that the presence of those nutrients in beans explained why its intake could prevent heart diseases and other ailments, hence the need to consume it regularly.

The event, dubbed: ‘Meatless Monday’ was organised by the Com­munications Initiative for Change (CIC), a Ghanaian non-profit organ­isation.

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The ‘Meatless Monday’ is an initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reduce their intake of meat by taking in more beans-based meals on every Monday of a week.

It was launched after the United Nations in 2019, set aside Febru­ary 10 to celebrate and encourage the consumption of pulses (beans) worldwide. This year’s celebration was hinged on the theme: ‘Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems.’

Mr Peter Agbovi, National Secre­tary, Chefs Association of Ghana, said a variety of meals could be prepared with beans, which include Waakye (rice and beans), Kose (beans paste made into cakes), Ayikple, Aboboi, Tuo Zaafi, Akyeke, and kakro.

He encouraged Ghanaians to con­sume more of those foods to stay healthy.

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Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, the Ex­ecutive Director, CIC, indicated that even if people could not eat beans-based meals regularly, efforts should be made to consume them every Monday.

He said that was the essence of the introduction of the ‘Meatless Monday’ initiative. -GNA

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 Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

Small size quarry stones fixed at open spac­es under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange was to leave the place open and free from activities of beggars and other activities of the homeless.

By the way the stones were fixed, it makes the area, particularly the VIP and Neoplan Station stretch of the Interchange, inhabit­able by the destitute.

But a walk through the area currently suggest the opposite.

At the median where pavement blocks have been taken over by these home­less and destitute, the area has been turned into a hotel where a number of these unfortunate ones have com­fortably laid their mattress­es and other stuff to rest from the day’s activities.

They have crossed over to the SSNIT and Kaneshie Station area with their activ­ities and have removed the quarry stones which were to ward them off the place to enable them find spaces to sleep comfortably.

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The pavement blocks re­moved from different loca­tions under the interchange now serves as foundations on which beds were laid and in some cases, mosquito nets erected.

Their continued pres­ence is not only creating a nuisance for commuters but marring the beauty and serenity of the place.

Sadly, the activities of these deprived fellows have been ignored while the numbers keep increasing day by day.

The Spectator finds the development very worrying and calls on the responsible authorities to clear the area to restore the beauty and serenity of the area.

 By Victor A. Buxton

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