<<Print>>

The Akatsi District station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Volta region is boiling, Today can report.

This follows what firemen there have described as “abuse of power” by the Acting (Ag) Fire Officer in-charge of the Station, ACO1 Ernest Ekor.

According to sources close to the Akatsi GNFS station, Mr. Ekor has arrogated to himself too “many powers” to the extent that nobody dares question his decisions and actions.

Today was reliably informed that Mr. Ekor, with the connivance of some top officials at the GNFS headquarters in Accra, use fire tenders as commercial water tankers to sell water to residents, schools and other private organisations, with the proceeds shared amongst themselves.

“..and if you dare question his actions and decisions you will incur his wrath,” the sources told Today.

And this was exactly what happened to one of the drivers who questioned why the acting Fire Officer in Akatsi was using the service fire tender vehicle for commercial ventures.

Mr. Ekor, the source revealed, instructed the said driver to dig four feet manhole as his punishment for questioning his decision to use a fire tender vehicle at the station for commercial purposes.

When Today reached Mr. Ekor via phone for his reaction, he admitted having punished one of his subordinates.

“What is wrong with punishing a subordinate if that person does not respect authority?” he strongly averred.

“I don’t fear anybody! You (referring to this reporter) can even report me to my superiors in Accra or the president… I don’t care,” he boasted.

However, he denied ever using the fire tenders for commercial purposes and pleaded with this reporter to come to Akatsi to see things for himself.”

“Do you know Akatsi (referring to this reporter)? Please find time and come and you will understand things better,” he pleaded.

The sources continued that the said driver fetched water for schools and sometimes people who organised parties and funerals.

Today also learnt that in November 31, 2014 and February 10, 2015 Mr. Ekor ordered water to be fetched for Anyako Senior High School in Akatsi.

And the money that was paid for this service, this paper gathered, found its way into the personal account of Mr. Ekor.

That act by the acting fire officer in Akatsi, the sources disclosed, infuriated the said driver who apparently had been drawing the water for people to question his boss why he was using state property to make money for himself.

The demand to know why Mr. Ekor was using state property for personal business did not go down with him.

Consequently, Mr. Ekor took offence and asked the said driver to dig (4 feet) man-hole.

Notwithstanding the 4 feet directive, Today chanced upon a letter dated December 31, 2014 with reference number (NFS/AKT/P. 2011480H), written to the Osu branch of the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) in Accra by Ernest Ekor, instructing the bank to withhold the driver’s salary for period of time.

Further investigations unfolded that the salary embargo was lifted after the said driver had finished digging the 4 feet man-hole and had also written an apology letter to his boss.