Church of Pentecost hands over newly built fire station to GNFS

The Church of Pentecost (CoP), last Wednesday, inaugurated and handed over a fully furnished fire station to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at Yesu Krom in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region.

The facility, built from the contributions of members of the church, would serve places such as the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Millennium City, and other neighbouring areas in and around the district.

It has four syndicate rooms, an Information Technology/Monitoring Room, a conference room, an accounts office, a storeroom and a reception area.

The fire station, which was constructed over 18 months, was inaugurated by the Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, with the assistance of the Chairman of CoP, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.

With them included the acting Chief Fire Officer, Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, and the Chief of Gomoa Fetteh, Nana Abor Atta.

Strategic

In his inaugural address, Alhaji Mubarak said the construction of the facility was a timely and strategic addition to the National Fire Infrastructure Network. He said the inauguration of the station was not only a celebration of bricks and mortar, but of vision, partnership and responsibility.

"What makes today's event truly remarkable is that the Church of Pentecost built, furnished and presented this fire station to the nation, and we thank the Church of Pentecost and all its members," he said.

He said he got to the Ministry of the Interior to meet a legacy, the footprint of the Church of Pentecost, all over the ministry, with police stations and prison camps, among others.

Alhaji Mubarak said the beautiful facility would significantly reduce response time to emergencies within the PCC and surrounding communities, and that it would also ease the pressure on the Kasoa and Buduburam fire stations, as well as enhance operational efficiency across the district.

"Given the rapid population growth and economic expansion in this area, the station could not have come at a better time,” he said, and urged those who had been deployed at the facility to uphold the core values of the service and use it not only as a station house, but as a command centre for safety, service and community empowerment.

"Continue to respond swiftly, educate the public passionately, and conduct yourself with professionalism and integrity at all times," he said.

Alhaji Mubarak urged all, whether Muslims or Christians, who could support, to emulate the good example of the CoP.

The ministry, he said, was taking new steps to ensure that the majority of Ghanaians understood what fire safety and general safety was all about, adding: "Very soon, we will roll out a programme that will not allow you to employ just anyone to attend to or be an attendee at a fuelling station or gas fuelling station, especially if that person has not gone through a certified training by the Ghana National Fire Service.

Society

Apostle Nyamekye said that in its desire to transform society, the church, in August 2018, launched the Possessing the Nations Agenda, and the significance of that mission was to partner with the government and other stakeholders to promote the nation's socio-economic development.

The new fire station

"As a church, we believe that we have been called not only to worship God in our church houses but also to serve His purpose within society," he said.

He said the initiative to establish a fire station in the community emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when the PCC was repurposed as an isolation centre.

Over the years, he said the GNFS had worked tirelessly, often overcoming logistical challenges, to ensure the safety of Ghanaians.

"I trust that this new facility will not only enhance their capacity but also serve as a testament to the church’s commitment to improving public security and safety," he said.

The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Nyamekye said, as part of its mission to possess the nation's agenda, had rolled out various security-related initiatives over the years, designed to improve safety and security within communities.

He said these included the construction and commissioning of state-of-the-art correctional facilities (prison camps) at Ejura and Nsawam, christened “Inmates Skills Acquisition and Reformation Centres”.

"As we speak, work is ongoing at two other correctional facilities at Obuasi and Damango," he said.

Investment

The acting Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Ms Sarpong, said the initiative, which was the first to be undertaken by a religious body, was not just a gift to the fire service but a huge investment in the safety and well-being of the entire community.

The fire station, she said, would enhance the service's ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.

"We know that in firefighting, every second counts," she said, adding that rapid deployment and timely response could be the difference between life and death or between serving a home or losing a neighbourhood.

The location and quality of the fire station, she said, would greatly support the service's operations and bring it closer to the people it served.

"What we are witnessing today is not just the opening of a fire station.

We are also deepening the collaboration between faith-based institutions and public service.

"This collaboration benefits our people in the entire country.

I strongly believe this collaboration will be a model for others to follow. 

The Church of Pentecost has shown that nation-building is not the responsibility of government alone," she said.

Responsibility

CFO Sarpong said the move was a shared responsibility and duty that included all stakeholders - religious bodies, private companies and individual citizens.

Nana Abor Atta lauded the church for the facility and appealed to other institutions and organisations to emulate the example.

The chiefs and people of Gomoa Fetteh, he said, were grateful for the support.

The Member of Parliament for Gomoa East, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, also commended the CoP for the initiative.