Attacks at fire scenes raise concerns over public awareness and safety

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Confrontations at fire scenes are becoming increasingly common in Ghana, often involving firefighters and affected victims, mostly traders. Experts say these clashes are frequently triggered by delays in response, with a recent incident escalating into the assault of a journalist.

The trend has been linked to late arrival of fire tenders, non-functional hydrants, traffic congestion, and other operational challenges.

In November 2025, a firefighter was stabbed while responding to a fire that destroyed seven rooms in a two-storey building near Ability Square in Adjiringanor. Earlier, in March 2025, a viral video from the Adum Central Market fire showed Ashanti Regional Minister Frank Amoakohene openly questioning fire officers over what he described as a lack of urgency at the scene.

More recently, a journalist with Class Media was assaulted at the Kasoa New Market fire while filming a confrontation between firefighters and traders.

These incidents underscore a widening gap in understanding between the public and emergency responders. Security consultant Richard Kumador attributes the clashes largely to limited public knowledge of fire service operations and the constraints firefighters face during emergencies.

“Public education and awareness creation can help to reduce these instances where you see fire service people being attacked because people do not understand their nature of their work. But public education will help to clear the traffic and how we have structures all over the place. This is why we need REGSEC and MMDAs to come on board and enforce the bylaws,” he said.

Kumador emphasised that the public must understand the realities of fire response operations, including logistical challenges and safety protocols.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has also indicated plans to train media personnel on responsible and safe reporting at fire scenes.

“Once the media is well informed, they will be able to also put out the required information but because that gap exists and most journalists are not well informed about our modus operandi, they still report negatively against us,” DO II Desmond Ackah, Head of Public Affairs at the GNFS, told Channel One News.

Experts say bridging this knowledge gap is crucial to preventing future confrontations and ensuring both public safety and the effectiveness of emergency response operations.

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