Scores of wooden structures at Circle ECOMOG in the Greater Accra region have been completely razed by a devastating fire. The blaze broke out around 4 PM, causing widespread destruction and leaving many residents scrambling for safety and salvageable belongings.
The wooden structures along the railway line near the Odaw drain from Adabraka towards Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra were gutted by the fire.
The entire enclave, located under a GRIDCo high-voltage transmission line was gutted by the fire resulting in a power outage in Adabraka and its surrounding areas.
A resident, identified as Super Scary, recounted the chaotic scene as the flames quickly engulfed the area. “It all happened so fast. One moment everything was normal, and the next, there was fire everywhere,” he said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but its rapid spread suggests that the tightly packed wooden structures and possibly flammable materials stored within may have contributed to the intensity of the blaze. Local authorities have commenced an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
AD01 Alex Tetteh Nartey from the PR Department of the Ghana National Fire Service in Accra confirmed that the structures were serving as brothels. He said the residents used the structures for both domestic and commercial purposes, ’’with illegal connection and unauthorised commercial activities, including cooking etc.’’
Meanwhile, a number of the residents blamed the fire service for not responding to their distress call early enough.
Ghana National Fire Service says they lack the requisite logistics, but worked within limits. Furthermore, the area was inaccessible, according to the Fire Official.
The Circle ECOMOG community is now grappling with the aftermath, as residents sift through the charred remains of their homes, hoping to salvage what little they can.
