1,035 out of 1,832 water hydrants are not functional – GNFS

Head of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Assistant Chief Fire Offi­cer Grade One (ACFO) 1, Timothy Osafo-Afum, has disclosed that a total of 1,035 out of 1,832 water hydrants sited across the country are faulty.

This according to ACFO 1 affects the service during fire outbreaks across the country.

He also disclosed that most of these hydrants were installed in the 90s adding that many are malfunctioning and cannot be serviced hence must be replaced while structures have been built on others.

ACFO 1 Timothy Osafo-Afum explained that firefighters have to travel long dis­tances to get water from other hydrants in case of emergencies hence resulting in delays.

In an interview, the PRO emphasized that, out of the 797, the Greater Accra region alone has 305 nonoperational hydrants followed by Ashanti Region with 123, Bono with 68, Western region with 64 and Eastern region with 62.

With the hydrants playing a key role in the service’s operations, ACFO 1 Timothy Osafo-Afum noted that the GNFS has intensified col­laboration with the Ghana Water Company Limited, to ensure the constant flow of water in operational hydrants adding that it has also submitted proposal to the government, to procure more water tankers to facilitate activities of the Service.

The service is also calling on some non-governmental organizations to support the government with the construction of bore­holes, especially in rural areas to ensure regular water supply.

Source: Myrepubliconline