The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has called for harsher penalties for illegal dumping, cautioning that ongoing human actions were making flood damage worse nationwide.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, June 30, which was monitored by Ghanaian Radar, the GNFS Public Relations Officer, Assistant Divisional Officer I Alex King Nartey, said the service remained ready to handle emergencies but emphasised that prevention hinged on civic responsibility and proper refuse handling.
He observed that while state bodies ketp engaging stakeholders and boosting readiness, many of the problems seen during floods were caused by people and could be prevented.
“We have quality human resource, so we are committed. I’m sure this has been a test for us and leadership engagements with the Interior Ministry have gone on to prepare for it,” he said.
Still, King Nartey raised concerns about public behaviour during crises, saying reckless waste disposal continues even as rescue teams work. He described the conduct as very alarming and urged for stricter enforcement, including fines that would discourage offenders.
“People should be given stiffer punishment. If the penalty is higher than the cost of proper waste disposal, people will choose the right option. If you are fined 5,000 cedis and proper waste disposal costs 50 cedis, which one will you choose?” he questioned.
Mr. Nartey also suggested local monitoring and whistleblower channels to help catch violators, stressing that policing by itself will not fix the issue. He added that although government can upgrade drains and improve response systems, real progress depends on citizens changing habits.
“The government can dredge drains and do what it can, but until the people change their attitude, we will keep facing the same problem every year,” he added.
