Over 100 wooden structures at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area were destroyed by fire on Wednesday, June 18.

Reports suggest the fire originated from a kiosk where cooking activities were being conducted around 11:00 p.m., quickly spreading to surrounding wooden structures.

The victims have been left with nothing to recover; they have therefore appealed to the government to come to their aid.

Speaking to the media, the victims accused the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for the scale of the destruction, citing their delayed response to the scene.

“I was asleep with my daughter that night while my elder brother was at church. Later, he called me to come outside because there was a fire. When I heard the sound of the flames, I rushed out almost naked.

“As we speak, I’ve lost everything. We hear the person who caused the fire has fled. He should keep running and make sure we never set eyes on him again. In the meantime, we are appealing to the government to come to our aid,” one resident said.

Meanwhile, the GNFS has yet to report the exact cause of the fire.

Ghana has experienced multiple fire outbreaks within the first few months of the year, raising concerns among citizens as homes, businesses, and markets suffer extensive damage.

Many have demanded an investigation, suspecting that some of these incidents may be deliberate acts by unidentified individuals.

While the GNFS probes these occurrences, it has emphasized the need for heightened fire safety awareness, routine inspections, and strict enforcement of safety regulations to prevent further disasters.

Meanwhile, the service has on several occasions contributed to response delays due to outdated equipment.

The GNFS has called for an increase in fire stations nationwide as well as a supply of modern equipment.