Personnel from the Wa Municipal Office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) narrowly escaped injury when a truck loaded with sawn lumber crashed into the fire station on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
The incident occurred during a briefing for personnel from both the Municipal and Regional Substations of the GNFS, who were preparing for a simulation exercise scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Wa Kejetia market.
The officers had to run for their lives when the Benz truck, with registration number GT8045C, was reversing and collided with the structure housing the fire engine.
The impact destroyed a lamp pole in front of the station, caused damage to part of the building, and slightly affected the fire engine.
The Acting Municipal Fire Commander, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade 1 (ADOI) Imran Iddrisu, explained that he and his team were standing in front of the station when they saw the truck loaded with lumber heading toward a nearby shop to offload.
The driver, however, missed his turn and was reversing when he experienced a mechanical failure, preventing him from applying the brakes.
The truck then ran into the lamp pole before crashing into the crew room and standing in front of the fire engine.
Fortunately, ADOI Iddrisu and his men managed to escape to safety before the truck could cause any harm.
Following the accident, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) visited the scene. The Upper West Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Isaac Kofi Obosu, reiterated the need to relocate the Municipal Fire Station.
He pointed out that the station’s location near a roundabout posed constant risks to the personnel’s safety, in addition to being housed in an old building.
He stressed that the current station was not suited to the municipality’s status and emphasized the urgency of moving to a permanent, more secure structure.
This incident, he said, should serve as a wake-up call to expedite the relocation process.
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