The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is calling for increased support, training, and equipment to effectively respond to a growing range of emergencies, including a worrying rise in bee invasions across parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview on ABC In The Morning on Monday, April 20, 2026, head of public relations for the Ghana National Fire Service, DOII Desmond Ackah highlighted the urgent need to retool the Service to meet evolving threats that go beyond traditional firefighting.
“With the right kind of support and retooling, the Ghana National Fire Service will be very positioned to save more lives and properties,” he stated.
According to DOII Ackah, the Service is increasingly dealing with “new trends of emerging urgencies,” particularly incidents involving swarms of bees that pose significant risks to public safety.
He explained that these insects often migrate from one location to another and can become aggressive when disturbed. “Normally when people bump into them, they either try to beat them or invade their space, which escalates the situation,” he said.
Such encounters have led to numerous injuries and, in some cases, fatalities. “People have suffered a lot of injuries, and some have also died,” he revealed.
The Fire Service, he noted, is frequently called upon to intervene in these situations, requiring personnel to safely relocate the bees and de-escalate potentially dangerous encounters. However, he stressed that current capacity remains limited.
“This is where we want to collaborate with experts in that area, train our people, and get the needed protective gears, so that anytime we are called, we are in the best position to do the relocation—and when it gets to the worst, to do the de-escalation,” he added.
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, DOII Ackah emphasized the ecological importance of bees, describing them as critical to agriculture and food production. He warned against indiscriminate killing of the insects, noting their role in pollination and honey production.
“We must ensure that we keep these insects alive so they can continue to pollinate our plants and produce good quality honey for our sustenance,” he said.
While acknowledging efforts already made by the Service to protect lives and property, DOII Ackah insisted that more support is needed to keep pace with the changing nature of emergencies.
“A lot has been done to save more lives; it is only fair that we at the National Fire Service ask for more support,” he concluded.
