KOFORIDUA FIRE EXPOSES FIRE SERVICE FAILURES AS SHOPS BURN AND FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED NEAR CENTRAL POLICE STATION
A late-night fire on 3 October 2026 gutted a one-storey commercial-residential building near Koforidua Central Police Station, destroying several shops including Kwaku Showboy Boutique and Mama Pee Collections, as well as residential rooms. One firefighter was injured by falling debris. A man initially feared dead was found alive. Officials visited the scene as investigations continue and residents demand better fire service resources.
A late-night fire tore through a one-storey commercial and residential building near the Koforidua Central Police Station in Ghana’s Eastern Region on Saturday, 3 October 2026, destroying several shops and homes and leaving one firefighter injured.
The blaze broke out around 10:00–11:00 p.m. in the Jackson Park/Old Traffic Light area at Srodae, close to the Central Market. According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the New Juaben North Municipal Fire Station received the distress call at 11:02 p.m. A 10-member team led by Station Officer II Nartey arrived at 11:15 p.m. to find the building fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters worked through the night, bringing the fire under control at 1:23 a.m. and fully extinguishing it at 3:04 a.m. Their efforts prevented the flames from spreading to neighbouring properties in the busy commercial zone. The intensity of the fire caused the complete collapse of the first floor and partial collapse of sections of the ground floor. The damaged structure has since been cordoned off for safety reasons.
Among the businesses destroyed were Kwaku Showboy Boutique (also referred to as Show Boy Shop), Mama Pee Collections (Mama Pee Shop), and an alcohol and wine shop. Residential rooms in the same building were also badly affected. Items lost included clothing, footwear, mobile phones and accessories, jewellery, personal care products, paints, drinks, air conditioners, electrical materials, and personal belongings.
One firefighter was injured after being struck by falling debris during the operation. He was rushed to the Eastern Regional Hospital (also reported as Central Hospital) for treatment. The extent of his injuries was not immediately detailed in official updates.
In a tense moment during the height of the fire, residents feared that a man identified as Richard Kofi Ofori, believed to have been asleep in an upper-floor room, had been trapped inside. Initial reports suggested he may have perished. He later emerged alive, sparking emotional relief and celebration among family and onlookers at the scene.
Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey visited the site, accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executives for New Juaben South and North (Ransford Owusu Boakye and Samuel Adongo) and Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah. The Minister commended the fire service, police, and members of the public who assisted. She noted that the building was an old structure in a precarious state after the fire and indicated that demolition would be necessary in consultation with the owners to protect lives.
Police arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of attempting to loot from the affected premises during the chaos. Crime Officer ASP Augustine Kwabena confirmed the arrest, stating the suspect would be dealt with according to the law.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the GNFS and police. Some residents have renewed calls for improved resourcing of the local fire service, citing difficulties with equipment during the response and the need for better-prepared emergency capacity in Koforidua.
Shop owners and residents returned to the scene on Sunday to assess losses and salvage what they could. Many are now facing significant financial setbacks from the destruction of stock and property.
Authorities continue to monitor the site and urge the public to observe fire safety measures, especially in mixed commercial-residential areas.
