- Fire outbreak occurred behind the VVIP Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle
- Over 50 mobile phone shops were destroyed by the blaze
- GNFS says delayed reporting worsened the spread of the fire
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that delayed reporting, poor access routes, gas explosions, and illegal electrical connections significantly hampered efforts to swiftly contain the fire outbreak behind the VVIP Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
The fire, which broke out at about 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, destroyed over 50 mobile phone shops, according to eyewitnesses and officials.
Although firefighters responded soon after receiving the distress call and eventually brought the blaze under control, several operational challenges slowed the firefighting efforts.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Friday, January 23, the Head of Public Affairs of the GNFS, DOII Desmond Ackah, said restricted access to the affected area was a major setback.
He explained that firefighters had to lay extended hose lines to reach the source of the fire, a process that required high water pressure and resulted in considerable water loss, making rapid containment difficult.
DOII Ackah added that the presence of numerous gas cylinders and cooking stoves in the shops worsened the situation, as periodic explosions released flammable gases and intensified the flames.
He further cited illegal and poorly installed electrical connections as a serious safety threat to firefighters, noting that several shops were connected to single electricity meters, posing electrocution risks until power to the area was disconnected.
According to him, the most critical challenge was the late alert to the Fire Service, which allowed the fire to spread widely before emergency crews arrived.
