A video that was making waves on social media yesterday, Monday, January 5, captures an alleged assault of a journalist by an unidentified Fire Service personnel during the dousing of the inferno that ravaged the Kasoa new market.

In a statement shared by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the service confirmed that the purported assault on the journalist, highlighting that the incident “is under police investigation, and GNFS will fully cooperate to establish the facts.”

While it confirmed the assault on the journalist, it described the video as capturing its personnel engaged in an altercation with a suspected thief who had earlier attacked some firefighters at the scene. Consequently, a committee has been formed to probe the events surrounding the altercation.

It stated that, “The video appears to capture an altercation between firefighters and a suspected thief, who had earlier attacked firefighters along with accomplices at the fire scene. GNFS management has constituted a committee to investigate the incident thoroughly and establish all relevant facts,” urging the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while investigations continue.

The firefighting and rescue service, however, expressed its intolerance for assault on civilians by its personnel, no matter the provocation, stressing its professionalism and dedication to serving the country.

“While GNFS condemns attacks on its personnel, it equally frowns upon any form of physical or verbal assault on civilians by its staff, regardless of provocation. The Service urges the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while the investigation continues. GNFS remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency in its operations and will continue to cooperate with the media and relevant authorities to ensure accurate public information,” parts of the statement read with a pledge to update the general public on the outcome of investigations into the case.

“Further updates on this matter will be communicated as necessary.”

The alleged assault on a Class Media journalist, identified as Samuel Addo, occurred after firefighters were making efforts to douse a fire at the Kasoa New Market, which broke out on Sunday, January 4, 2026. According to Mr Addo, as reported by the West Africa Editors Society (WAES), he returned to the market on Monday morning for follow-up coverage when about ten fire officers allegedly seized his phone and assaulted him, despite his identifying himself as a journalist.

“I have lodged a complaint with the police and have been issued with a medical form to attend the hospital,” he said.

About the Kasoa New Market fire

Ghana recorded over 3,595 fire incidents nationwide in the first half of 2025, with regional breakdowns showing hundreds of cases across the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions.

Barely a week into the New Year, some Kasoa residents had their stalls completely burnt after a fire ravaged stalls in a major outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a distress call was received around 4:50 p.m., after which the Kasoa Fire Station swiftly reached the scene, only to meet the fire at a very advanced stage.

The fire was spreading so rapidly that fire tenders had to immediately call for reinforcement from Weija, Anyaa, Dansoman, Industrial Area, Flagstaff House, Madina, and Swedru fire stations.

After about two hours of firefighting, the tenders managed to extinguish the flames at 6:52 p.m., brought the fire under control at 7:52 p.m., and fully extinguished it by 10:00 p.m.

Although several metallic shops and wooden stalls were destroyed—along with food items such as maize, beans, shea butter, spices, and other merchandise—the swift response by firefighters prevented the blaze from consuming the entire market.

Fire control officers explained that, despite the losses incurred, several stalls were salvaged. Among the challenges listed by the GNFS during the operation were poor accessibility within the market, long distances to reliable water sources, and interference from members of the public at various points during the operation. This fire marks the second major outbreak at the market in the last two years.

A fire incident at Abuakwa Manhyia in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of a three-month-old baby and six others. The fire outbreak, which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, swept through an apartment.

This information was disclosed by the Assembly Member for Abuakwa Manhyia, Evans Opoku. Meanwhile, the cause of the incident is yet to be established. Ghana has recorded several fire incidents from January to November this year.

Recently, a fire outbreak at Tsito–Awudome Gborkorpe in the Volta Region destroyed a two-bedroom self-contained apartment.

No casualties were reported from the incident, which occurred on Monday, December 8. Several students at Kedjebi-Asato Senior High School (SHS) in the Oti Region were left unconscious after a fire gutted one of the boys’ dormitories on Tuesday morning, December 2.

The students passed out from exhaustion as a result of smoke inhalation during the fire. Unfortunately, all their belongings were destroyed. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) successfully brought the blaze under control.

Last month, a four-bedroom apartment at Aboabo Number 2 in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region was razed by fire on Wednesday, November 27. A young man in the community who attempted to help extinguish the fire was electrocuted in the process.

Speaking to the media, the Assembly Member for the area, Haruna Abdul Rashid, disclosed that the victim is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

He added that officers from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) arrived at the scene to turn off the transformer to prevent the fire from spreading further.

In the early hours of Wednesday, November 26, an eight-year-old girl lost her life after a devastating fire swept through the Dansoman Market.

The girl was trapped in the intense blaze and could not escape as the fire engulfed the area. Her charred body was handed over to the Police for preservation and further investigation.

Several wooden structures and shops, along with their contents, were destroyed. However, adjacent structures were saved due to the prompt intervention of firefighters.

According to an update by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), a crew from the Dansoman Fire Station arrived at the scene within two minutes after receiving a distress call at 00:02 hours, but the fire was already at an advanced stage.

Because of the intensity of the blaze, eight fire engines were deployed to support two private water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.