- Seven family members, including a mother and six children, die in Akyempim fire
- Fire suspected to have been deliberately set by husband, Yaw Afriyie (aka Batman)
- Victims buried together in a single grave on November 11, 2025
A family of seven who perished in a tragic fire incident at Akyempim in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region has been buried together in a single grave.
The devastating fire, suspected to have been deliberately set by the father and husband, occurred on November 1, 2025, claiming the lives of the entire family. A joint burial ceremony was held on Tuesday, November 11, for Ama Dapaah, 39, and her six children — Maame Yaa, 18; Kwabi, 15; Kwame Rasteo, 13; Isaac Charteng Afriyie, 6; Abigail Anima Afriyie, 4; and Kwadwo, 7 months old.
Except for Dapaah, whose body was identifiable, the other victims were buried in body bags as their remains were completely charred. The Akyempim community was enveloped in grief as residents gathered to mourn the family.
According to an initial report by the Ghana National Fire Service, the Dunkwa-on-Offin station responded to a distress call around 1:00 a.m. on November 1, 2025. However, rescuers were unable to enter the building immediately because the doors were locked. By the time they gained access, all seven victims had been burnt beyond recognition.
The discovery of the husband, Yaw Afriyie, popularly known as Batman, dead in a nearby bush after the incident has strengthened suspicions of arson. He is believed to have taken his own life, with some community members attributing the tragedy to a long-standing marital dispute between him and Ama Dapaah.
