The Birim Central Fire Commander, DO II Kwesi Hughes, has dismissed allegations suggesting that personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service spend working hours playing draft, locally known as Dame, and Ludo instead of carrying out their duties.
Speaking to the public on the Fire Service’s readiness to respond to emergencies during the Christmas season, DO II Hughes explained that firefighting is an emergency-based profession, which requires officers to remain at their stations at all times in anticipation of distress calls.
According to him, fire stations must remain active environments to ensure personnel are alert, present, and readily available to respond swiftly whenever emergencies occur.
He noted that when officers report for duty and there are no active emergencies, engaging in indoor recreational activities such as Dame and Ludo helps keep them occupied and within the station premises.
“If officers are idle without any activity, they may step out of the station, and when an emergency occurs, they may not be readily available to respond immediately. These games help keep them present and alert,” he explained.
DO II Hughes further emphasized that such practices are not unique to Ghana, noting that fire officers in other countries, including the United States, engage in similar activities during downtime.
He therefore rejected claims that fire personnel are lazy, stressing that seeing them play Dame or Ludo does not mean they are neglecting their responsibilities.
