A massive fire tore through the Dansoman Market in Accra just after midnight on Wednesday, leaving destruction in its wake and claiming the life of an eight‑year‑old girl.
The blaze, which started around 12:04am, quickly spread across several wooden stalls. Witnesses say it may have been sparked by a gas cylinder explosion, though others suspect an electrical fault.
The Dansoman Fire Station, located only about 50 meters away, was the first to respond. Residents, however, criticized the initial effort, alleging that the first tender arrived without water. As the flames spread, reinforcements were called in. Engines from Industrial Area, Ministries, Madina, Weija, Anyaa, and other stations joined the fight, along with water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Fire crews battled the fire from multiple directions, finally bringing it under control around 3 a.m. and extinguishing hidden hotspots by dawn. Despite their efforts, tragedy struck when the young girl, trapped inside one of the shops, could not be rescued. Her remains were later handed over to police.
Traders rushed to recover goods, but many shops were reduced to ashes. Still, firefighters managed to save adjoining shops from the forward-moving flames.
The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Rev. Kwaku Addo, visited the scene to console affected traders. The Dansoman Market, upgraded about three decades ago, remains the largest trading hub in the constituency. Yet many of its inner structures are still wooden, leaving them vulnerable to disasters like this.
Investigators from the Ghana National Fire Service have begun probing the cause of the fire. A full assessment of the damage is expected in the coming days.
