Tears At Kasoa Hightension As Fire Destroys Over 20 Container Shops – Traders Lose Millions, Blame Lack Of Fire Service

Tears At Kasoa Hightension As Fire Destroys Over 20 Container Shops – Traders Lose Millions, Blame Lack Of Fire Service

Tragedy has struck traders at Kasoa Hightension in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region after a devastating fire outbreak destroyed more than 20 container shops and their contents worth hundreds of thousands of Ghana cedis.

The fire, which occurred on Monday, October 20, 2026, in the afternoon, left traders wailing and counting their losses as their entire livelihoods were reduced to ashes within minutes.

Eyewitnesses say the fire started from one container shop and quickly spread to adjoining shops due to the close proximity of the containers and the highly combustible materials inside, including electrical gadgets, mobile phones, wood, foam mattresses, and plastic materials.

How The Fire Started

According to traders who were present when the fire started, they saw smoke billowing from one of the container shops that sells mobile phone accessories and electrical appliances at Kasoa Hightension, near the Kasoa New Market area.

Within minutes, the smoke turned into a huge inferno that engulfed more than 20 container shops arranged in a row.

Some traders attempted to use buckets of water and fire extinguishers to douse the flames, but the fire was too intense and spread rapidly due to strong winds and the presence of highly flammable materials.

“We were sitting in our shops when we suddenly saw smoke from one shop. We thought it was someone burning rubbish, but within 5 minutes, the whole place was on fire.

We couldn’t save anything. Everything is gone,” a trader who lost two shops told http://KasoaNews.com in tears.

Another trader, a woman who sells children’s clothes, said she had just restocked her shop on Sunday with goods worth GH¢15,000 for the Christmas season, but everything has been destroyed.

“I borrowed GH¢10,000 from my susu group to buy new goods for Christmas. I brought them on Sunday. Today, everything is burnt. I don’t know what to do. My children will not go to school tomorrow,” she cried.

Kasoa Fire Service Failure Angers Traders

What has angered traders and residents the most is the alleged failure of the Kasoa Fire Station to respond quickly to the emergency.

According to eyewitnesses, when the fire started, calls were immediately placed to the Kasoa Fire Service station, but they were told their fire tender was out of service or had no water.

The traders had to wait for over 45 minutes for a fire tender from Weija in the Ga South Municipality to arrive at Kasoa Hightension to help fight the fire. By the time the Weija fire tender arrived, more than 20 shops had already been completely destroyed.

“This is not the first time Kasoa Fire Service has failed us. Every time there is fire in Kasoa, they say their car is faulty or has no water. What is the use of the fire station in Kasoa if they cannot fight fire in Kasoa?” an angry youth leader at Kasoa Hightension questioned.

“We pay taxes, we vote, but we don’t have a functional fire service in the biggest market town in Ghana. This is shameful.”

The incident has reignited calls for the government and Ghana National Fire Service to equip the Kasoa Fire Station with modern fire tenders, adequate water supply, and personnel to handle emergencies in the fast-growing municipality.

Kasoa, with a population of over 500,000 people, is one of the fastest-growing towns in Ghana, with thousands of container shops, markets, and residential buildings, but has only one fire station with reportedly one old fire tender that frequently breaks down.

Losses In Millions

Traders at Kasoa Hightension sell a variety of goods including:

– Mobile phones and accessories

– Electrical appliances and gadgets

– Wood and carpentry materials

– Foam mattresses and pillows

– Plastic chairs and household items

– Second-hand clothing (foose)

– Shoes and bags

Preliminary estimates from traders suggest that the total loss could be in the range of GH¢500,000 to GH¢800,000, as many shops had just restocked for the Christmas season which is approaching.

One trader who deals in mobile phones said he lost 50 brand new phones, 30 phone chargers, power banks, and other accessories worth over GH¢60,000.

Another who sells electrical appliances lost fridges, TVs, and sound systems worth over GH¢40,000.

Police And NADMO Visit Scene

Personnel from the Kasoa Divisional Police Command and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in Awutu Senya East visited the scene to assess the damage and maintain order.

NADMO officials have promised to compile a list of affected traders and forward it to the regional office for possible support, although traders say past promises of support after similar fire outbreaks in Kasoa have never been fulfilled.

The police have also commenced investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire, although eyewitnesses suspect an electrical fault or power fluctuation as the cause.

Traders Call For Help

The affected traders are calling on the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hon. Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Municipal Chief Executive, and the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, as well as philanthropists and NGOs, to come to their aid.

“We are not asking for much, just something to start again. Some of us have lost everything. Our capital, our savings, everything is gone. We need help,” a leader of the affected traders said.

They also called on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to check illegal connections and faulty wiring in the area, which they believe contributes to frequent fire outbreaks.

Safety Tips For Container Shop Owners In Kasoa

Following this incident, http://KasoaNews.com advises all container shop owners in Kasoa to take these safety measures:

1. Ensure proper wiring by a certified electrician – avoid illegal connections

2. Switch off all electrical appliances at the close of day

3. Do not sleep in container shops with electrical appliances plugged in

4. Keep a fire extinguisher in your shop

5. Keep containers spaced to prevent rapid fire spread

6. Insure your goods with insurance companies – many offer micro-insurance for traders

7. Save the emergency numbers of Kasoa Fire Service and Weija Fire Service on your phone

Has Your Shop Been Affected By Fire In Kasoa?

If you have been a victim of fire outbreak or any disaster in Kasoa, contact http://KasoaNews.com on WhatsApp 0243272564. Share your story and we will publish it to attract support.

Follow http://KasoaNews.com for more breaking news from Kasoa Hightension, Kasoa New Market, and across Awutu Senya East.