A total of 578 newly trained fire officers have graduated after 28 weeks of in­tensified training at Fire Academy and Training School in Jamestown, Accra.Comprising 356 men and 222 women who successfully complet­ed 28 weeks of rigorous training in fire science, first aid, breathing apparatus operations, building construction, and physical fitness.Speaking at a graduation ceremony on Friday, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mo­hammed-Mubarak, celebrating the graduates' achievement and reaffirming government's commit­ment to strengthening the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).The Interior Minister praised the newly commissioned officers for their discipline, commitment, and outstanding performance during training, which included advanced courses in the chemistry of combustion, physical fitness, and firefighting techniques."Today's synchronised drills were more than spectacle, they were a testament to teamwork, fo­cus, and excellence," he remarked.He commended the instructors and staff of the Fire Service Col­lege for their dedication to shaping a new generation of emergency response professionals.He emphasised that GNFS had evolved from a traditional fire bri­gade into a dynamic multi-hazard emergency response agency, and the graduation was a clear sign of that progress.The Minister expressed concern over the fire incidents recorded in the first few months of 2025.He said the country reported 3,201 fire outbreaks in the first five months slightly down from 3,238 in the same period in 2024.However, he noted, the figures remain worrying as in the first quarter alone, 2,226 incidents were reported.False or prank calls, which he asserted disrupted operations, fell significantly by over 31 per cent, from 192,545 in early 2024 to 131,862 in 2025 a success credited to intensified public education and outreach campaigns."These calls waste time and deny attention to real emergen­cies," Hon.

Mubarak said, urging religious institutions, schools, and families to educate citizens on the dangers of such practices.He further revealed that proper­ty worth over GH¢150 million was saved by the Fire Service in the first quarter of 2025, up from just over GH¢45 million in the same period last year.Mohammed-Mubarak an­nounced the introduction of insurance coverage for fire officers which would cover officers injured or permanently disabled in the line of duty by receiving compensa­tion ranging from GH¢50,000 to GH¢100,000.He assured continued invest­ment in GNFS infrastructure, including drones, tenders, breath­ing apparatus, and rapid response vehicles."To our graduates, serve with honour, lead with courage, and wear your uniform with pride, you are now guardians of life and property," he declared. BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA