This function was chaired by Alhaji AYMB Ibrahima. Mr. Aquah Herbert (the Northern Regional Fire Officer) delivering a speech on the topic “fire fighting methods, the use of ICT and early warning system”
In his speech, Mr. Herbert disclosed that in 2007, about 330 bush fires were recorded in Ghana whilst the Northern Region recorded 19 out of 330.
He highlighted the effects of bushfires to include:
• Erosion leading to the exposure of soil and loss of soil fertility.
• Destruction to ICT facilities as mast, telephone poles and lines etc
• Global warming
• Desertification
• And drying of rivers and other fresh water bodies.
On the methods of fighting bushfires, Mr. Herbert Aquah said that we have the direct attack and the indirect attack.
- Direct attacks he said include the use of fire tenders, fire belts and fire beating sweater.
- Indirect attacks on the other hand include employing the use of natural and man-made facilities such as Warm and fresh water bodies, foot paths, roads and fire belts.
Affirming that ICT can play a major role in fire fighting, the Fire Officer said Radio handsets could be used for communication from base. Early warning for the TV and audio visual instruments could be employed as well as the use of Radio station (FMs) for education and communication. He mentioned that satellite and remote sensing equipment could also be installed
Presenting on the topic “technologies and bushfires, the meeting point and the effects of Bush Fires on ICT” the second speaker Mr. Kubuga Kennedy, talked about the use of ICT to communicate with the fire officers. He opined that the telephone numbers of the fire service offices are mostly inactive and because of this fire incidents cannot easily be reported.
Technology he noted is exposing humans to bush fires. He thus submitted that the fire services should meet the telecom operators in the country and discuss the possibilities of all the mobile networks coming out with a single short-code number. This, he said would help a lot of people reaching the fire service both directly and remotely.
He spoke of wooden electricity and telephone poles, the havoc caused to them and also the havoc they also cause when there is fire outbreak and remarked that alternatives should be looked out for.
The third speaker, Mr. Amaaligo James an Assistant Manager with the Integrated Tamale Fruit Company (ITFC) shared his company’s experiences on the effects of bushfires. He narrated how bush fire raided their mango plantation at Tinga destroying crops worth millions of Cedis and the terrible effect it had on the company in terms of the loss man hours and energy.
He mentioned that they have been more careful ever since. He mentioned that aside the creation of fire belts and using sand and Jatropha plant to prevent bush fires, they also deploy ICT tools. He said every farm and vehicle of the Company has installed in it, Motorola Communication devices, which make all their farms and vehicles reachable at any point in time.
He advocated for the development of websites and educative software that have something to do with fire to inculcate the fear of fire in children and adults. He mentioned that corporate bodies and organizations could also dedicate a portion of their website to educating visitors on bushfire.
During the open forum, Baba Salifu (a participant) talked about the fixing of sockets on the floor of rooms. This he said contributes to the out break of fires in many homes. He also talked about the lack of skills in the use fire extinguishers.
Stephen Agbenyo in his contribution said the regulations regarding fire safety measures in buildings such as business places and others should be enforced. He noted that the laws on this are largely inactive.
Fred Amese on his part said the problem is not about the laws on fire but the implementation. He said the laws cannot and do not work because Ghanaians as a culture find it difficult to expose wrong doings/doers. He called for extensive education on the effects of bush fires in other to enhance attitudinal change.
In winding up the forum, the chairman, Alhaji AYMB Ibrahima said that bush fires are a menace to society and the best possible and practicable measures should be adopted to curb the phenomenon.