Fire Service Welfare bus now "tro tro"

In spite of the government’s campaign against indiscipline, the disruptive behaviour is still holding sway over many, including even sensitive sectors of society.

Chronicle investigation has uncovered a classical case of such a canker in the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) where personnel had been spotted on a number of occasions misusing their welfare bus for what is suspected to be personal gains.

The bus, meant to convey service personnel to and from work given the sensitive nature of their duties, has been found on several occasions on the Kaneshie-Mallam and Dansoman-Makola routes by The Chronicle, picking passengers from whom they took fares.

This reporter, on one occasion, had sat in one of the buses plying the Dansoman-Makola route and had paid ?1,000 as fare and noticed an argument between a serviceman and a passenger over a seat.

On another occasion, The Chronicle photographed a scene of the welfare bus (with registration number FS 264) busily loading passengers at the Dansoman last stop.

Possibly, these monies collected from the “tro tro” services may not be accounted for since management of the fire service has denied knowledge of the use of the buses as public transport.

The Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Attengah, who spoke to The Chronicle, described the use of the bus as “tro tro” as illegal since Government had not authorized its use as such.

In the presence two of his lieutenants, public relations officer Ishmael McCarthy and transport officer D. N. Yeboah, Mr. Attengah gave the assurance that the matter would be investigated and the culprits dealt with according service regulations.

The Chronicle learnt that personnel of the service collectively decided to pay a token of ?2,000 a day towards the maintenance of the buses since government subvention was inadequate.

The GNFS management indicated that the bus is solely used for the welfare of service personnel and their families but not a passenger bus.

However, management pointed out that, where people were found stranded, they were allowed to join the bus on humanitarian basis.

“It is only in cases where people are found stranded that civilians are allowed to join but this is solely on humanitarian basis and should not be seen as using the bus for financial gains or profit making,” Mr. Yeboah explained.

He said the bus also conveys personnel of other security agencies as well as officials of government departments when the need arises.