Businesses destroyed as flood and fire hit Odawna Rubber Market

Traders at the Odawna Rubber Market in Accra are appealing for urgent support after a fire destroyed nearly 20 shops during heavy rains and flooding that hit parts of the capital on Monday, June 29, 2026.

According to affected traders, this is not the first time the market has experienced a fire outbreak, but they say the latest incident has left them completely devastated.

“This is not the first time the Odawna Rubber Market has caught fire, but in this recent outbreak, we have lost everything. We are appealing to the city authorities to come to our aid. I couldn’t salvage anything; everything is gone,” one trader said.

Odawna Market in flames amid heavy downpour - Reports

Residents and traders say the market is frequently affected by flooding whenever it rains, as nearby waterways often overflow their banks. They explained that during the recent downpour, floodwaters inundated the area before smoke was later seen rising from one section of the market.

“We experience flooding here anytime it rains. The Odaw River overflowed its banks during the recent rains. We later saw smoke coming from one end of the market, so we quickly called the Ghana National Fire Service,” another trader recounted in an interview with GhanaWeb TV on June 30, 2026.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded to the distress call and eventually brought the blaze under control, but not before significant damage had been done. Floodwaters, however, reportedly hampered access to the scene and made firefighting efforts more difficult.

Traders estimate that more than 20 shops were razed in the fire. Each shed in the market contains about 26 shops, meaning a large number of businesses were affected. Hairdressers, plastic goods sellers, and grain traders were among the worst hit.

The fire broke out in the morning of June 29, 2026, as torrential rains continued for hours in Accra, leaving several communities submerged and disrupting normal activities.

Traders described a chaotic scene where rising floodwaters and spreading flames left many helpless as shops were engulfed before emergency teams could fully access the area.

The incident has caused significant losses to traders, many of whom say they have lost goods and equipment worth years of investment.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has begun registering victims affected by the fire. The exercise is expected to help authorities assess the extent of damage and coordinate relief support for affected traders.

See the video below:

JKB/VPO

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