On January 19, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia marked a significant milestone by inaugurating a cutting-edge Fire Service Academy and Training School situated in Wungu, within the North East Region of Ghana. This state-of-the-art facility, which includes a three-story administration block, classrooms, male and female dormitories, a dining hall, and modern training equipment, stands as the second Fire Service Academy in Ghana and the first in the northern region. The newly commissioned academy is poised to play a pivotal role in augmenting Ghana’s fire training capabilities and strengthening emergency response capacities. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to fortifying the nation’s firefighting resources, extending beyond the existing training school in James Town, Accra.
The advanced training facility is designed to conduct comprehensive programs covering a spectrum of firefighting aspects, such as rescue operations, evacuation, decontamination, fire prevention, fire suppression, and hazardous materials management. Additionally, the academy will focus on training bushfire volunteers, equipping them with skills and knowledge in bushfire management.
At the commissioning ceremony, Vice President Bawumia, who also serves as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), underscored the significance of the newly established Fire Academy and Training School. He emphasized the government’s dedication to expanding the nation’s fire training capacity and stressed the importance of establishing more training schools across the country. Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the remarkable efforts of the NPP government in increasing the number of training schools from one to four within a short period. He announced that the Wungu Fire Academy and Training School is the first of three new facilities, with the second soon to be commissioned and a fourth scheduled before the end of the year.
Vice President Bawumia celebrated the substantial increase in Fire Service personnel, noting that staff strength had risen from 7,000 to 15,000 under the NPP government. He highlighted the importance of adequately equipping firefighters, recognizing firefighting as a critical aspect of emergency response.
The establishment of the Wungu Fire Academy and Training School reflects the government’s commitment to continuously upgrade the Fire Service, ensuring that firefighting personnel possess the necessary skills and tools to effectively manage emergencies. Dr. Bawumia concluded by emphasizing the significance of such dedicated facilities outside Accra to enhance training and ultimately save lives across the country.
