In Konongo, located within the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region, a group of irate residents launched an attack on fire officers and vandalized a firefighting vehicle.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, February 10, 2024, following allegations by the residents that the fire officers had delayed their response to a fire incident in the area. The firefighters, stationed in Konongo, had been dispatched to a fire emergency near Nkwakwa. However, while they were at the scene, they received another urgent distress call, prompting them to swiftly return to Konongo, as their single fire engine caters to multiple communities.
Frustrated by what they perceived as a tardy arrival, the residents resorted to hurling stones and other projectiles at the firefighting crew. This resulted in significant damage to the fire engine and left the officers deeply shaken.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, though no arrests have been made thus far. The Ghana National Fire Service had previously cautioned the public against resorting to violence against its personnel.
D.O.3 Peter Addai, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, emphasized the importance of refraining from such attacks, stressing that they are unlawful according to Ghanaian statutes.
“We risk our lives to come and save people’s lives, and when we are met with such hostilities, it affects us. We want to caution those who engage in such acts to desist because it is an offense under Section 205 of the Criminal Code. It is against the law to prevent an officer from executing his mandate, so we advise people to desist,” he stated.
