Fire Ravages Shops At Accra Newtown

But for the timely arrival of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) personnel yesterday, a devastating fire that engulfed chains of shops at Agbaadzeena, a suburb of Accra would have extended to other surrounding stores and houses.

That notwithstanding, goods and property worth several million cedis were destroyed.


The fire, which started around 1:40 p.m., according to eyewitnesses, allegedly erupted from a fashion shop that was closed and later extended to the adjacent shops.


It took the personnel from the Fire Services headquarters about five minutes to quench the fire upon arrival.


"I was in the room when I heard some people shouting 'fire, fire' after they saw a smoke coming out some people shouting 'fire, fire' after they saw a smoke coming out of the seamstress' shop," narrated Alfred Hanson, a shopkeeper, in a confused mood and counting the loss of his master's goods or wares.


Hanson's shop is said to be one of the most affected shops that got burnt yesterday. His shop, Couramen Enterprise, deals in electronic printing materials and rubber stamps used for sachet water as well as studio equipment.


Even though he could not say exactly how much he lost in the fire, it was estimated at several million cedis.

Other shops affected included a drinking bar, the fashion shop, where eyewitnesses said the fire broke up and the Ayawaso Co-operative Transport Society.


Even though the cause of the fire was not known, eyewitnesses believe that it stemmed from an electrical fault. The main source of the fire too could not be identified, since the fashion shop from whence the fire erupted was closed.


The Fire Station officer, Mr. Odanmei who spoke to the Chronicle said it took about10 minutes for his men to arrive on the scene from their headquarters and about five minutes to quench it.


He said what they did after putting the fire under control was to identify the source and disconnect it completely.


Mr. Odanmei, was however, full of praise for the people in the area who kept the fire under control before their arrival.


In an advice to Ghanaians, he said, what they need to do in such cases is to first call the Fire Service on their emergency number 191 before attempting to put it under control.

Meanwhile, a girl from a nearby chop bar is believed to be the only casualty.


According to an eyewitness, the girl collided with one of the volunteers during an explosion from the fire and sustained injuries on her right leg.


She said the girl was later rushed to the 37 Military Hospital, in Accra.


In related development residents of Ayawaso central have appealed to the government to establish a sub fire station in their area.