A man has been arrested in connection with a fire that tore through Accra’s Timber Market in the early hours of Saturday, according to officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The fire, which broke out around 1:17 a.m. near the Aayalolo School, destroyed numerous shops dealing in wooden planks and construction hardware. Firefighters from across the capital, supported by water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan and Ablekuma Municipal Assemblies, battled the blaze for more than 10 hours before extinguishing it shortly before noon.
Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander Rashid Kwame Nisawu told local media the arrest followed intelligence gathered during the firefighting operation. According to the GNFS, plainclothes officers deployed at the scene discovered that the fire may have been sparked by a man who allegedly ignited a pile of rubbish and left it unattended.
"Through our investigations during the operation, we gathered that a gentleman had gathered refuse, set it on fire, and went to sleep. That incident escalated and led to what we experienced," said Mr. Nisawu in an interview with Channel One Newsroom.
Authorities say police moved quickly on the intelligence and apprehended the suspect, who is now in custody at the James Town Police Station. His identity has not been publicly disclosed.
Two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation—one suffered an electric shock, and another received burns to the arm. Both have since been treated and discharged, according to GNFS officials.
Despite the extensive damage to the market, emergency crews successfully prevented the fire from spreading to nearby properties, including the Aayalolo cluster of schools.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
