A fire outbreak on January 6, 2025, destroyed several shops near the stadium traffic light in Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region. This incident comes just days after a local restaurant in the same area was consumed by flames, raising concerns about fire safety in the locality.
Firefighters arrived promptly and managed to extinguish the blaze, but their efforts were hampered by challenges accessing the scene.
According to the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, DO II Nibunu Callistus, preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started from a burning refuse dump near a tricycle dealership. The improperly managed fire came into contact with oil and containers, which intensified the flames and spread the fire to nearby shops.
Authorities are urging residents and business owners to exercise greater caution with waste disposal and fire management to prevent future incidents. While no casualties were reported, the destruction of property has left shop owners counting their losses.