The Chairman of the Sofoline Mechanics Association, Ing. Waco Koffi, has attributed the scale of destruction caused by the recent fire outbreak at the Sofoline mechanic yard to the actions of workers within the area.
In an interview with Adom News, Mr Koffi disclosed that the fire is believed to have started after refuse was set alight at a fitting shop close to the point where the blaze erupted.
“I believe the fire was caused by our own actions. Someone was burning refuse in a fitting shop this evening, and that is where the fire began,” he said.
He added that workers in the yard had repeatedly been warned by the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) against burning refuse within the fitting shops, but those warnings were ignored.
“We have been cautioned several times not to burn waste in the fitting shop, but some people refused to listen, and now we are facing the consequences,” he stated.
A devastating fire swept through several mechanic shops at Sofoline in the Kwadaso Municipality of the Ashanti Region on Sunday, January 25, 2026, causing extensive damage.
The fire, which broke out at about 7:00 p.m., destroyed more than 100 vehicles, numerous engines, and large quantities of upholstery materials, leaving mechanics and shop owners with significant losses. Firefighters responded promptly and, after battling the flames for nearly four hours, managed to bring the fire under control.
Although investigations are ongoing and the official cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, eyewitnesses praised the swift response of the Fire Service.
“When the fire started, we tried to contain it while our leaders contacted the Fire Service. Credit to them for their quick response; without their intervention, the damage would have been far worse,” an eyewitness said.
Another eyewitness lamented the extent of the destruction, noting that several vehicles—including brand-new cars, those undergoing repairs, and others parked at the yard—were completely destroyed.
As affected shop owners assess the damage, many fear the severe financial consequences of the disaster. Mr Koffi has therefore appealed to the government for assistance to help victims recover and rebuild their livelihoods.
