Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister has said a proper definition of development did not just mean the provision of infrastructure but meeting basic needs like providing fire tenders at vantage points in the society.

He said this during the inaugural ceremony of a 3,000-gallon water capacity fire tender allocated to the Jomoro District by the government at Half-Assini, the District Capital.

Mr. Aidoo said President Mills on January 7, 2009, swore the oath that he would protect lives and properties of Ghanaians including farms, houses and vehicles and that the people of Jomoro were witnesses to his efforts at honouring the oath.

He said before last year, there were only four fire tenders in the entire region, but with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s promise of protecting lives and properties, it had added three more within three years in office making it seven.

He said out of the seven tenders, Jomoro District has been provided with two within a year, adding that this signified the Better Ghana agenda President Mills envisaged.

Mr. Aidoo said even though the Police had been called more often in the protection of lives and properties, their roles are insignificant hence the Fire Service mandate to ensure safety when fire occurs.

Mr. William Yawson, Western Regional Assistant Chief Fire Officer, commended the government for resourcing the Ghana Fire Service in recent times in the discharge of its duties.

He appealed to fishermen in the area not to keep fuel in their houses since it is the source of most fire outbreaks in their communities and urged the district firemen to educate the fishermen on how to control fires.

Mr. Yawson asked the district fire officers to keep proper care of the equipment to prolong its lifespan, and advised the people to cooperate with them in the discharge of their duties since fire prevention rest on all and sundry.

Mr. Sylvester N. Daddieh, Jomoro District Chief Executive, said under the NDC regime, the district has been enjoying its fair share of the national cake through development projects and other programmes which are in line with the Better Ghana agenda.

He appealed to the public to desist from raising false fire alarms which not only impede the work of the fire service in the area but may prevent the officers from responding promptly to an actual fire alarm.

The DCE thanked the Regional Fire Officer for the second tender to the District and asked the fire officers to use the equipment for its intended purpose.

Mr. Francis Tata-Chie Acquah, a retired educationist and the last year’s Best Coconut Farmer who chaired the function, said fire can serve and destroy life and commended the government for combating the second aspect through the provision of the tender.

The ceremony was used to inaugurate a brand new grader procured by the Assembly for routine maintenance of roads in the district periodically.

Two similar ceremonies were later in the day held at Ektu near Half-Assini and Allowulley in the district, where the Regional Minister also commissioned two unit primary and Junior High School classroom blocks respectively for the communities.

The Regional Minister was accompanied by Mr. David Yaro, Chief Director, Western Regional Coordinating Council.**