A devastating fire swept through Achimota late Sunday morning, destroying seven shops and leaving behind a trail of losses estimated in thousands of cedis.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when a woman left food on fire for a church service which sparked the blaze. The fire, they said, began in one of the clustered wooden structures and quickly spread to nearby stores before anyone could react.
Residents initially tried to control the flames using buckets of water and sand, but their efforts proved futile as the fire intensified and engulfed adjoining shops. Many of them admitted that they delayed calling the fire service, hoping to manage the situation on their own.
Confirming the incident, Desmond Ackah, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), said the delay in alerting firefighters contributed to the extent of the damage.
“When the fire started, residents attempted to fight it themselves instead of calling us immediately. That delay gave the fire more time to spread and destroy property,” he stated.
Ackah emphasized the importance of quickly contacting the fire service whenever such incidents occur, adding that prompt response could prevent the destruction of lives and property.
Firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving the distress call and worked tirelessly for several hours before bringing the situation under control. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded, but several shop owners lost goods and equipment worth thousands of cedis.
Some affected traders, visibly distraught, recounted how years of hard work went up in flames within minutes. Others expressed frustration over the poor access routes that made it difficult for fire trucks to reach the scene quickly.
The GNFS has since launched an investigation into the exact cause of the fire, while urging the public to adhere to safety precautions, especially in areas with wooden structures and shared electrical connections.
This latest incident adds to the growing number of fire outbreaks recorded in the Greater Accra Region this year many of which, according to fire officials, stem from negligence, illegal connections, and unsafe cooking practices.
Story by: Benedict Wiafe
