Three Children Lose Their Lives in Heartbreaking Weekend Fires Across Ghana

A series of devastating fires over the weekend have claimed the lives of three young children, causing grief in the Ashanti, Upper East, and Bono regions of Ghana.

In Asawase, Ashanti Region, a fire broke out at Dagomba Line on the afternoon of Friday, January 10, tragically claiming the life of a 3-year-old boy named Hakim.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started while Hakim and his 12-year-old sister were asleep. While the sister managed to escape, she failed to raise the alarm, leaving her younger brother trapped inside.

Neighbours attempted to extinguish the fire but were unable to reach the child due to the intensity of the flames. The fire department could not be contacted in time due to access issues in the area.

Once the fire was under control, Hakim’s charred remains were discovered. His parents were reportedly at work when the tragedy occurred. Preliminary investigations suggest that a faulty electrical connection may have caused the blaze, though this has not yet been confirmed.

This tragic event follows another fire on Thursday, January 9, that destroyed a 12-bedroom house in the Ayeduase area of the Oforikrom Municipality in the Ashanti Region, leaving 18 people homeless.

In the Bono Region, a fire broke out at Odumase in the Sunyani West Municipality on Saturday morning, January 11, claiming the life of a nine-month-old girl. The fire started at approximately 6:40 a.m. while the baby was asleep.

Despite the efforts of residents to alert others and contain the fire, it quickly became uncontrollable. The Ghana National Fire Service arrived two and a half hours later, by which time the damage had already been done.

Kwame Adomako, the Public Relations Officer for the Bono Regional Ghana National Fire Service, confirmed the delay in the response and urged citizens to remain vigilant as fire outbreaks continue to increase.

“This tragic loss, especially the death of an innocent baby, underscores the urgency of addressing the rising number of fire incidents. We must all be cautious,” Adomako said.

On Sunday, January 12, a fire broke out in Nogsenia, a suburb of Navrongo in the Upper East Region, resulting in the death of a six-month-old baby. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the room where the baby and her parents were. Despite efforts by neighbours to rescue the infant, they were unable to save her.

The baby’s mother, who was inside the house, lost consciousness due to smoke inhalation and was rushed to War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo for treatment. The fire destroyed the family’s belongings, including important documents and clothing, leaving them without shelter.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has yet to determine the cause of these domestic fires, which come amid a rise in market fires across the country, particularly in the Ashanti, Northern, and Greater Accra regions.

In 2022, Ghana experienced over 6,700 fire outbreaks, resulting in over GH¢64 million in losses, 50 deaths, and 241 injuries.

The government has labeled this situation as unacceptable, stressing the need for collective efforts to prevent further tragedies.