Ashanti Regional Fire Commander Responds to Minister’s Remarks on Firefighters
The Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Peter Tetteh, has expressed disappointment over comments made by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, regarding the conduct of firefighters at the scene of the recent Adum fire, calling them both unfair and unfortunate.
ACFO II Tetteh explained that the Minister’s remarks had a demoralizing effect on the firefighters, prompting commanders to step in to uplift their spirits. A viral video captured Dr. Amoakohene instructing firefighters to move their fire engines if they insisted on having a standby tanker supply water to them.
In response, ACFO II Tetteh clarified that at the time of the Minister’s comments, the firefighters had temporarily paused their operations to allow excavators to clear a path for more effective firefighting. “That is actually unfair, and I will add unfortunate,” he said. “At that moment, all our branches were lowered to allow the excavators to work and create access for us. We were waiting for them to finish so we could continue, while the tankers were supplying water.”
Tetteh went on to explain that the firefighters had been working tirelessly throughout the day, and their efforts had even been recognized by the President. “The work we did throughout the morning was commendable; the President was even here to acknowledge our efforts. After that comment, we received several calls. I was not happy, our men were not happy. They were demoralized, so I had to step in as a leader to motivate and encourage them to finish the job,” he said.
Emphasizing the dedication of the firefighters, ACFO II Tetteh stated that they deserved recognition rather than criticism. “
Additionally, Tetteh warned traders and residents to stay away from the affected buildings due to safety concerns. “The structure is not safe for people to be moving in and out. The structural integrity is questionable, and we do not want any casualties. We advise residents to stay away to prevent any loss of life,” he cautioned.
He also called on city authorities to implement recommendations from the forthcoming fire incident report to help prevent similar disasters in the future.
