The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has renewed its appeal to the public to observe fire safety measures during the harmattan season to help reduce the increasing number of fire outbreaks across the country.
The Service says the dry and dusty weather conditions associated with harmattan create an environment where fires spread rapidly, making the period one of the most dangerous times of the year for fire incidents.
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Although the Fire Service issues annual safety advisories, many people fail to heed the warnings, contributing to the high number of fire outbreaks recorded during the dry season, which typically runs from late December to early February.
The warning comes as bushfires have already caused significant damage in parts of the Volta Region. At Sogakofe and Keta, bushfires destroyed 29 Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) poles along the sea defence stretch, including 21 high-tension poles and eight service poles.
Keta District ECG Manager, Godwin Gone, said the fires occurred between December 30, 2019, and January 1, 2020, and required the intervention of firefighters to bring them under control.
He described the incident as unusual, noting that there were no nearby farmlands or dense vegetation where bush burning would normally occur.
Mr Gone urged residents to avoid indiscriminate bush burning during the dry season, warning that such practices could lead to widespread destruction, power outages, and threats to human life.
With fire outbreaks becoming more frequent during the harmattan period, the GNFS has called on both the government and the public to prioritise fire prevention measures to safeguard lives, property, and critical infrastructure.
