Tribute to Ambassador Samuel Valis Akyianu
Naked I departed from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Just as it pleased the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21
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Samuel Valis Akyianu was recruited into the then Railway Fire Service on April 2, 1962 in Takoradi as a Fireman. With the formation of the National Fire Service in 1963, S. V. Akyianu was transferred and joined the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on April 1, 1964.
He was a brilliant and smart young officer whose potential was identified early in his profession, and was therefore, encouraged, supported and given professional training overseas. Certificates and qualifications obtained included: Certificate in Fire Technology at Derbyshire Fire Training School, UK; Certificate in Senior Command Course at Fire Service Technical College, UK; Certificate in Fire Prevention Technology at Fire Service Technical College, UK; Diploma and Graduate in Fire Engineering.
It therefore, came as no surprise when in 1985, the then Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) appointed S.V. Akyianu as the Acting Chief Fire Officer. He was confirmed and appointed as the substantive Chief Fire Officer in 1988 until his retirement in 1996
Chief Akyianu, as he was popularly called, was so useful that his efforts, dedication, insights and vision exhibited were all extremely valuable to the successful undertakings of the GNFS.
In fact, he was a Chief Fire Officer extraordinaire who accomplished a lot for the GNFS.
Achievements
His outstanding achievement in his 34 years’ stay in the Service from the rank of Fireman to Chief Fire Officer (1962 to 1996) in the field of Operations, Fire Prevention and Administration was very much instrumental in making the GNFS a household name in Ghana.
At the peak of his career, Chief Fire Officer Akyianu was the President of the African Fire Chiefs on the International Association of Fire Chiefs. There is no wonder that the name Akyianu became synonymous with the GNFS.
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Chief Akyianu was a proponent of the continuous growth of the GNFS and, therefore, advocated a new brand of tertiary-level graduates into the Service in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, a decision that changed the face of the GNFS.
The devastation of the nation’s vegetation as a result of rampant bushfires, made Chief Akyianu to initiate the Rural Fire concept and the establishment of the Rural Fire Department in the Service. He, therefore, championed the promulgation of PNDC Law 46 (now PNDC Law 229) to help prevent and control the burning of the nation’s vegetative cover.
Love for sports
His love for sports and music made him to promote the two disciplines in the GNFS, thus the Service became the bulk supplier of sportsmen and women that fed the national teams.
Indeed, Chief Akyianu was the consummate “doer” for the good and improvement of the GNFS in particular and mother Ghana at large.
His efforts and willingness to support the GNFS in myriad capacities even after his exit continued to be an inspiration. He was indeed a genuine asset to the GNFS.
Chief Akyianu was seen as a Fire Ambassador and attended every function of the Service even at short notice.
The GNFS has lost a valuable asset, the Nation Ghana has lost an irreplaceable gem.
Chief Akyianu, Nante yie.
May the good Lord keep you in His Bosom till we meet again.
The writer is the Chief Fire Officer and he wrote this piece on his own behalf and that of the Command of the GNFS.