Atomic Gas Explosion: How Kojo Yankson was ‘roasted’ for ‘chinchinga’ narrative

One name that would always be remembered anytime discussions on the unfortunate gas explosion at Atomic junction, two years ago, comes up, is The Multimedia Group's Kojo Yankson.

The morning man, as some call him, developed a fascinating theory on how a ‘chinchinga’ (Khebab) seller caused the explosion which resulted in the loss of about 7 lives and thousands of cedis worth of properties.

Areas within Madina and Atomic junction were turned into a state of turmoil on the evening of Saturday, October 7, 2017 following an unexpected explosion from a gas station.

Residents, as well as students from the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School and the University of Ghana, had to flee for their lives as a result of the magnitude of the heat waves from the explosion.

Accounts from eye-witnesses indicated that the explosion struck when a gas tanker was offloading its contents at a station. The fire instantly spread to a fuel station adjacent to the gas filling station.

Kojo Yankson reporting otherwise stated that “There was a leak during a loading exercise from one of the tanks here in this compound. Gas was pluming up into the sky, blowing up very fast and everybody in the area noticed it…Members of staff at the gas station evacuated immediately and called the authorities.

Within minutes, our chinchinga stand operator decided to start work. In spite of the fact that there was escaping gas, he lit a flame under his Khebab and the flame shot up into the air and connected with the gas that was gathering in the air above the heads of all the people standing around…this flame connected with it [the gas] and set the entire sky above the people at this junction ablaze.”

His footage took social media by storm with many disagreeing with his assertions.



Ghanaians from all walks of life, both on and off social media, did not take the theory lightly, making Kojo Yankson the receiver of numerous criticisms.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) dismissed the report, describing it as “unfortunate” whilst calling on Ghanaians to disregard the report.

For days, Kojo Yankson was trending on social media and below are some reactions to his report on Facebook.

The journalist had his trademark hairline (aboy) becoming a topic for discussion with outspoken musician, A Plus, naming him Chief Fire Officer Chichinga Ab)i.





Another Facebook user, Kwame Kekeli Bokpe, expressed his disappointment in the journalist's report.