A fire outbreak behind the VVIP Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra has destroyed about 50 shops, most of which were used as warehouses for phone accessories and other merchandise.
The blaze, which occurred on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, also gutted nearby structures used as residences and food vending points in the busy commercial area, forcing traders and occupants to flee as the flames rapidly spread.
Details on the cause of the fire and possible injuries were still unclear at the time of reporting, as emergency officials continued assessing the extent of the damage.
Confirming the incident, Assistant Fire Officer Rashid Kwame Esau of the Ghana National Fire Service said preliminary investigations suggested the fire started from one of the kiosks in the area.
“We currently have five fire tenders on site, including a private water tanker. Some of the tenders had to leave two or three times to replenish water. We have been informed that the fire started from a kiosk, but the exact cause is yet to be determined,” he told journalists at the scene.
Firefighters battled the inferno for several hours, facing intermittent water supply challenges that slowed suppression efforts. Despite the difficulties, the Ghana National Fire Service eventually managed to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to nearby transport terminals and commercial facilities around the Circle.
In the aftermath, several affected traders were seen sifting through the debris in an attempt to salvage their goods, while others mourned the loss of stock stored in the warehouses, some of which were meant for wholesale distribution.
The Fire Service has assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire and to inform measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
