1,000 recruits fire departments in training "licensed"

General News on Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-04-09

Approximately 1,000 trainees from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were invited to return home until further notice.

Trainees, consisting of recruits and cadets, had to go through the final phase of their training at the Accra Fire Academy and Training School when the directive was issued by Fire Chief Edwin Ekow Blankson.

They had successfully completed a three-month internship in the country's various fire stations.

The direction contained in a letter dated April 1 addressed to all Regional Fire Commanding Officers and the Fire Academy and Training School (FATS) Commander was not substantiated.

The letter requested the regional fire commanders to release, effective April 5, recruits and trainees who were doing their traineeship in recruitment and training.

However, he asked the first, second and third lots, who had received a letter of appointment and who were receiving an allowance, to remain in office.

In the meantime, the letter stated in particular that "the steps necessary to authenticate the documents and other information submitted to the Service by the trainees concerned are in progress.

"Only those who meet the criteria to be hired by the Ghana National Fire Service will be recalled to participate in the final phase of the training program," the text adds.

Despite the badurance that the trainees concerned will be recalled to conclude the final phase of the training, some do not seem convinced.

Some of them say that they were "sacked" indirectly by the GNFS and that the letter asking them to go home until new order is just to put the dust in the eyes of the big public to avoid criticism of the government.

The public relations department at GNFS headquarters confirmed the directive to 3news and agreed to clarify the matter further at noon live on TV3 at 12 noon today.