Avenor, North Industrial Area, Accra, Ghana — October 1, 2026
A major fire tore through kiosks at Kofikrom, close to Duraplast and the ECG Avenor office in Accra's North Industrial Area, on Thursday morning, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky that was reportedly visible from Nima and other nearby communities for miles around.
What Happened
The fire broke out at around 7:30 a.m. in Kofikrom, a precinct behind the railway line near Avenor junction, and quickly spread through the area's kiosks and traders' stalls. Vendors were seen scrambling to salvage goods while residents living in nearby kiosks fled as the flames intensified. Despite the scale of the blaze, electricity supply to the wider area had initially not been cut, though the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) later cut power as a safety precaution.
A Possible Cause
While the official cause remains unconfirmed, an eyewitness speaking on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem said someone may have been cooking in the area when an explosion suddenly occurred, triggering the fire. It is unclear whether the food had been left unattended. The witness also pointed to large quantities of plastic materials sold around the location as a major factor fuelling the intensity of the blaze.
Firefighters Struggle to Reach the Scene
Two Ghana National Fire Service tenders arrived at the scene but reported the blaze remained intense on arrival. Making matters worse, firefighters reportedly faced serious difficulty accessing the affected area: cargo trucks had blocked the road, with drivers refusing to move their vehicles to clear the way, while some residents were also accused of obstructing emergency personnel.
One eyewitness appealed directly to residents to let firefighters through, saying: "Fire Service came to help, yet the residents want to fight them. That is what will happen." Another witness described residents initially rushing to a nearby company to fetch water to fight the flames themselves, only to be turned away by officials who reportedly told them they "don't care."
Possible Injury Reported
An eyewitness on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem said he saw one woman who had reportedly been burnt, saying she lives at the location with a group of people. This account has not been independently confirmed, and the full extent of injuries, if any, remains unclear as of this report.
Current Status
As of this report, firefighters remain on the ground working to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire, the full extent of the damage, and whether anyone has been seriously injured have not yet been officially confirmed. Further updates are expected as Ghana National Fire Service and police continue their response.
This is a developing local story. Details regarding the cause, extent of damage, and any injuries are based on eyewitness accounts and have not yet been officially confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service.