A late-night blaze tore through a densely populated settlement near the Madina Redco Flats, destroying more than 150 structures and claiming the life of a young woman.
The tragic fire, which broke out around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, is among the most devastating incidents to strike the area in recent years.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the inferno began in a section of the community comprised mainly of wooden and metal structures, many of which served dual purposes as homes and shops.
A total of approximately 140 wooden structures and 20 metal kiosks were completely consumed by the flames before firefighters were able to bring the situation under control.
Emergency responders from the Madina Fire Station were the first to arrive at the scene, reaching the location by 11:17 p.m.
Reinforcements from the Adenta, Legon, Abelemkpe, and National Headquarters Fire Stations followed shortly after to support efforts in containing the fast-spreading fire.
Despite their swift response, the blaze had already reached full intensity by the time help arrived.
It took nearly 45 minutes to bring the situation under control and over three hours to completely douse the fire.
By 2:22 a.m., the GNFS confirmed that the flames had been fully extinguished.
Tragically, one life was lost in the fire. A young Nigerian woman identified only as Beauty, believed to be in her early twenties, was trapped inside one of the burning structures and could not escape.
Her charred remains were retrieved and handed over to the Madina Police for preservation and further investigation.
In what officials described as a heroic and coordinated response, firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to more than 200 nearby structures, including the iconic Redco Flats.
“If not for the swift actions of the team, this could have been an even bigger catastrophe,” said a GNFS officer on the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
However, GNFS and community leaders are urging residents to adhere to fire safety protocols, especially in high-density informal settlements where open flames and faulty electrical connections are common.
This fire follows a worrying trend of recent disasters in informal communities around the capital, reigniting calls for stricter enforcement of building codes and the need for improved emergency preparedness and infrastructure support in vulnerable urban areas.
