An overnight fire at the Dansoman Market in Accra has left an 8-year-old girl dead and destroyed several shops and wooden structures.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) says the incident began around 12:02 am on Wednesday. Firefighters from the Dansoman station arrived within minutes, but the flames had already spread across a large portion of the market.
Crews from eight additional stations, including Industrial Area, Ministries, National Headquarters, Madina, Weija, Anyaa, and Accra City, joined the effort, with two private water tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly providing extra support.
Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, eventually containing it at 1:51 am, bringing it under control by 3:03 am, and fully extinguishing it at 5:21 am after thorough checks for hidden flames.
Despite their efforts, the young girl was trapped inside one of the affected structures and could not be saved. Her charred remains have been handed over to police for further investigation.
The fire ripped through several wooden shops, destroying goods and livelihoods. However, emergency teams managed to stop the fire from extending to nearby buildings, preventing even greater loss.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known. The GNFS and police have launched investigations and are urging traders to prioritize safety measures to reduce the recurring fire risk at markets.
Dansoman Market remains one of Accra’s major trading hubs and has suffered similar incidents in recent years, raising renewed calls for stronger fire prevention systems.