The Presiding Member of Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, Hon. Asiedu Offei has stated that the decision to relocate the Municipal fire station from Akuapem Mampong to Akropong is a well thought through decision collectively taken by the assembly to enhance security.
The Fire Station was relocated on Friday, April 9, 2021, after over 32 years of operation at Akuapem Mampong despite limited office accommodation.
The relocation of the fire Service Personnel into a permanent office at Akropong has sparked agitation by chiefs and people of Mampong.
However, Hon. Asiedu Offei explained that the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly has moved to its new office complex leaving the old block vacant.
The Assembly therefore thought it wise to allow the offices to the Security Services and the Circuit Court.
“As at now the Security Service including the Fire Service is occupying the old Assembly block as their permanent place. The Assembly aimed to keep all the Security Service at the common point for easy accessibility.”
He said, “The Fire Station as it is, serves two constituencies namely; Okere Constituency and Akuapem North Constituency, and Akropong happens to be at the center of these two constituencies. Again Fires Service cut across the entire nation to serve the citizenry. Koforidua being the Eastern Regional Capital has only two Fire Tenders but men have been placed at the Regional Hospital and All Nations University to carry out their job”.
According to him, the Assembly has plans to put up mini fire Stations at Larteh, Mampong, and Adawso to facilitate swift response to fire outbreaks.
He wondered that the Fire Station has been at Mampong for 32years now and at the same Social Centre, and Mampong people as they claim never built a block to house the Station”
Reacting to other Political claims made by the Chief and People of Akuapem- Mampong, Hon. Asiedu Offei said “in terms of voting, as it is being claimed by the people of Mampong, Mampong comes third to Akropong and Larteh. It must be emphatically stated that it is neither the MCE nor the MP who initiated the movement of the Fire Station but rather the sole authority of the Assembly. Hence people should stop tarnishing the image of the MCE and the MP and also stop the propaganda and the backbiting”.
He questioned that “does the land being occupied by the Fire Station belong to Mampong or Abotakyi? (A land dispute which has not yet been resolved)
Was the Fire Station first brought to Mampong or Akropong?
Were Mampong People able to build an office for the Fire Station before the relocation?. I think we are one people with a common destiny and we should live in Peace rather than backbiting and undermining others just to score no points”.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
