The Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Peter Tetteh, has described remarks made by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, against firefighters as unfair and unfortunate.

According to him, the Minister’s comments at the scene of the Adum fire had a demoralizing effect on the firefighters, forcing commanders to step in and boost their morale.

A viral video showed Dr. Amoakohene instructing firefighters to move their fire engines away if they insisted on having a standby tanker supply water to them.

Clarifying the situation, ACFO II Peter Tetteh explained that at the time of the Minister’s remarks, firefighters had temporarily paused their operations to allow excavators to create access for more effective firefighting.

“That is actually unfair. I will add, unfortunate because, at that time, all our branches had been lowered to allow the excavators to work and clear the way for us. We were waiting for them to finish so that we could continue, while the tankers were supplying water,” he said.

He further emphasized that the firefighters had been working tirelessly throughout the day, with even the President acknowledging their dedication.

“The work we did throughout the morning was commendable, the President was even here to recognize our efforts. After that comment, we received several calls. I was not happy, our men were not happy. They were demoralized, so I had to step in as a leader to motivate and encourage them to complete the work,” he added.

ACFO II Peter Tetteh stressed that instead of criticism, firefighters deserved recognition for their relentless efforts in battling the blaze.

“We should be commended; we have done so well and should be motivated to keep working. This incident is overwhelming, we have been fighting this fire for 24 hours without sleep. We should be applauded and encouraged,” he stated.

Additionally, he urged traders and residents to stay away from the affected buildings due to safety concerns.

“The structure is not safe for people to be moving in and out. The structural integrity is questionable, and we do not want any casualties. So, we advise residents to stay away to prevent any loss of life,” he warned.

He also called on city authorities to implement recommendations from the upcoming fire incident report to help prevent similar disasters in the future.