Some angry residents in Konongo, Ashanti Region’s Asante Akim Central Municipality, attacked fire officers and damaged a tender.
The incident occurred on Saturday, February 10, 2024, when angry residents accused firefighters of delaying their response to a fire outbreak in the neighborhood.
Firefighters from Konongo were dispatched to a fire near Nkwakwa. While on the scene, they received another distress call and had to return to Konongo township, where the only fire engine serves multiple communities.
Residents, dissatisfied with the officers’ delayed arrival at the scene, began throwing stones and other offensive items at the crew.
They caused damage to the fire engine, leaving the firefighters traumatized.
Police have launched investigations into the incident, but no arrests have been made.
The Ghana National Fire Service had previously warned the public against attacking its officers.
D.O.3 Peter Addai, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, urged the public not to attack personnel, citing the fact that it violates Ghanaian law.
“We risk our lives to save people’s lives, and when we encounter such hostility, it affects us. We want to warn those who commit such acts to stop because it is a crime under Section 205 of the Criminal Code. It is against the law to prevent an officer from carrying out his mandate, so we advise people to stop,” he said.
