Anger Erupts in Kumasi as Residents Attack Firefighters During Blaze at TV Station and Church
Furious locals assault fire crew as a major blaze destroys Trinity Television and a church in Krofuom
- Locals in Krofuom, Kumasi, attacked fire officers as they responded to a blaze that destroyed Trinity Television and a church
- Residents expressed frustration over delayed fire response
- The fire, which started around 9 a.m., destroyed an 18-year-old church building and a TV station
Residents of Krofuom, a suburb in Kumasi, reportedly attacked a fire tender when a blaze destroyed a local TV station, Trinity Television, and a church.
The firefighters had to retreat from the physical assaults of the angry residents as the fire caused significant damage to properties valued in the millions of cedis.
Police officers were called to the scene to assist and bring in another fire tender to handle the situation. Two fire tenders had initially arrived, but one was attacked by residents frustrated with the delayed response time.
Eyewitness Solomon described the incident, saying, “When they came, people started pelting them with stones, so they left to protect themselves. Then, the police intervened. This is not the first time something like that has happened. The authorities must caution the people against that attitude.”
The fire, which started around 9 a.m. on Friday, completely destroyed the 18-year-old church building and ruined various properties inside, including a television studio and related facilities. The fire began after workers and pastors at the Trinity Television station and church had finished their morning broadcast, with a nearby kiosk catching fire and spreading to the building.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but no casualties have been reported. Apostle Collins Boadi, the owner of the television station, shared his account, saying, “At about 9:10 am, we had finished a service and realized a container behind us was burning. A lot of properties have been destroyed. We were preparing to open a new studio on December 31.”
After nearly two hours, the fire was fully extinguished, with residents and facility owners attempting to salvage remaining items. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Ashanti Region has expressed growing concern over the increasing attacks on firefighters during emergencies.
