Fire Service trainees asked to go home until further notice

Some trainees of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have been asked to go home until further notice.

The trainees, made up of recruits and cadet, were due to go through the final phase of their training after successfully completing a three-month internship at the various fire stations across the country.

The directive, contained in a letter dated April 1, 2019, and issued by the Chief Fire Officer, Edwin Ekow Blankson, did not give reasons except that “appropriate steps are being taken to authenticate documents and other information submitted to the Service by the trainees concerned.”

“Only those who satisfy the requirements for employment into the Ghana National Fire Service shall be recalled to participate in the final phase of the training programme,” it added.

It, however, directed the first, second and the third batches who have received appointment letters and are being paid allowances, to remain at post.

Following the publication of the story, the Ghana National Fire Service has since offered an explanation on the development.

Below is a copy of the full statement by the GNFS

• The attention of the Management of the Ghana National Fire Service has been drawn to stories making rounds in the media with regards to some Fire Recruits who have been sacked without allowances.
• The Management of the Service wishes to state the facts as follows:
• That the 2018/2019 Recruits have been divided into four batches.
• That the Recruits in question are the fourth batch of the ongoing 2018/2019 recruitment exercise who have undergone a week orientation exercise at the Fire Academy And Training School (FATS) after which they proceeded to various fire stations for attachment prior to their final training.
• That, the Recruits in question have not been sacked but asked to go home after the end of their attachment period and would be recalled for training after the preceding batches have completed their training.
• They are scheduled to go back for training in September, 2019.
  SIGNED

ELLIS ROBINSON OKOE

DOII

HEAD OF P.R