The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed that a major fire outbreak near the National Lotteries office, opposite the Arts Centre in Accra, destroyed over 50 wooden structures on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were recorded.

In an official statement posted on Facebook, the GNFS revealed that the blaze was first reported at 18:20 GMT. Fire crews from the Ministries Fire Station arrived six minutes later, but the fire had already reached an advanced stage.

Initial firefighting efforts were hampered by non-functional hydrants in the area, prompting the deployment of four additional fire engines from the Electoral Commission, Accra City, Parliament House, and the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters substations.

Despite these challenges, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control by 19:00 GMT and fully extinguished it by 20:44 GMT.

The affected structures—mostly wooden kiosks and temporary dwellings—were completely gutted, along with their contents. However, adjoining buildings were saved due to the swift and coordinated response by the fire teams.

Senior GNFS officers, including ACFO II Osmond Anum and the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, were on-site to supervise the operation.

While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, the GNFS has launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.

This latest fire underscores the recurring risks posed by inadequate hydrant systems in Accra’s densely populated zones, where combustible materials and poor spatial planning continue to exacerbate the threat of urban fires.