A catastrophic fire swallowed Makola Shopping Mall in Accra. It has rendered over 200 shops and makeshift structures destroyed which has caused a temporary closure for assessment.
The fire, which started at 11:00 pm on Friday, October 20, 2023, was controlled within four and a half hours by Ghana National Fire Service personnel. The root of the outbreak is still under investigation.
The losses included wigs, perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, and various items worth thousands of Ghana cedis. Thankfully, there were no casualties.
The Deputy Director of Operations at the GNFS, Chief Fire Officer Kofi Forson, conferred that personnel received a distress call around 11:24 pm and rapidly arrived at the scene due to the proximity of a fire station.
The fire required extra reinforcements, totaling nine firefighting appliances and 70 personnel.
One thing that limited the work of the GNFS was restricted access due to blocked alleys caused by some temporary structures. Irrespective of the limitations, the timely response prevented further wreckages to a nearby Electricity Company of Ghana substation.
The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Roberta Aggrey-Ghanson, confirmed that the explosions heard were from cosmetic products exposed to the fire’s extreme heat.
Mayor Elizabeth K.T. Sackey went the site and said that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly would await a GNFS report to determine future actions. She also appealed to traders to take precautionary measures to avoid future outbreaks.
Eyewitnesses echoed the need for a lasting solution to such misfortunes. They also promoted the displacement of makeshift setups for better access during disasters.
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