“We’ve No Health Insurance, We Pay for Treatment” – GNFS

Firefighters in Ghana do not have an insurance package to cover injuries sustained while performing their duties, a Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Alex King Nartey, has disclosed.

According to King Nartey, officers injured in the line of duty must personally cover their medical expenses and later seek reimbursement. However, he noted that the reimbursement process is often lengthy and uncertain, leaving many firefighters financially burdened after sustaining injuries.

Speaking to GHOne TV, on March 22^nd 2025, he criticized the public reprimand of the firefighters, arguing that such actions discourage personnel who risk their lives daily to protect lives and property.

“We don’t have any health insurance. A simple thank you would have sufficed. You could have easily spoken to the commanding officer at that time and gotten updates, but to create a scene with cameras on you to demoralize the firefighters is not right,” King Nartey stated.

He further explained that injured firefighters rely on their own resources to seek medical care and must later apply for a refund.

“When firefighters get injured at a fire scene, they use their own money to take care of themselves and later apply for a refund. If they don’t have money at that moment, they have to borrow to pay for medical treatment,” he lamented.

His revelation follows the recent comments made by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, during his visit to the site of a massive fire outbreak at Adum in Kumasi on Saturday, March 22.

The fire, which erupted in a commercial building near the Adum Central Business District, caused extensive damage, destroying shops, properties, and goods worth thousands of Ghana cedis. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters from the GNFS swiftly responded to the incident, battling the raging flames to prevent further destruction. However, during his visit to assess the situation, Dr. Amoakohene grew frustrated when he spotted what he believed to be an empty fire tender at the scene. He questioned the firefighters, demanding an explanation for the vehicle’s presence if it had no water.

In response, King Nartey expressed disappointment in the minister’s reaction, stating that a simple show of appreciation would have been more appropriate.

Meanwhile, a day after the devastating fire in Kumasi, smoke and embers continued to smolder in the ruins. The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, 2025, caused widespread destruction, leaving several businesses in ruins. Firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the night to bring the blaze under control.

The affected area housed businesses dealing in mobile phones, accessories, jewelry, clothing, and second-hand items, making the incident one of the worst fire outbreaks in Kumasi’s recent history. Excavators were deployed on Saturday, March 22, to demolish partially damaged structures, allowing firefighters better access to extinguish lingering flames.

Traders desperately searched through the wreckage to salvage whatever remained of their goods, while others relocated their merchandise to safer areas. Several people suffered injuries and panic attacks, receiving first aid before being transported to the Manhyia Government Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

According to the National Ambulance Service, at least nine people, including firefighters, sustained injuries, with many others left traumatized by the disaster. Emergency response teams remain at the scene, working to fully extinguish the fire and assess the extent of the damage.