An eight-year-old girl lost her life in a devastating dawn fire that swept through portions of the Dansoman Market in Accra, despite a massive and sustained response from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
The child, according to officials, was trapped in one of the structures engulfed by the blaze.
Firefighters discovered her after the flames were brought under control.
Her body has since been handed over to the Police for preservation and further investigations. Authorities have not released her identity, pending notification of family.
The tragedy struck at 00:02 a.m., when the GNFS received an emergency call alerting them to a fast-spreading fire at the busy market.
Within two minutes, the first firefighting crew from the Dansoman Fire Station arrived to find the blaze already at an advanced and aggressive stage, moving rapidly through wooden structures and stacked goods.
Recognising the scale of the emergency, commanders immediately called for backup.
In response, eight fire engines were deployed from the Industrial Area, Ministries, National Headquarters, Madina, Weija, Anyaa, and Accra City fire stations.
They were supported by two private water tankers provided by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
What followed was a lengthy and coordinated battle against the inferno. Firefighters managed to confine the fire at 1:51 a.m. and bring it under control by 3:03 a.m.
Overhauling operations—where responders search for hidden flames—continued for hours until the fire was fully extinguished at 5:21 a.m.
While the swift deployment of resources saved several adjoining structures and prevented a broader disaster, the damage within the affected section of the market was extensive.
A yet-to-be-determined number of wooden trading structures and shops were destroyed, along with their contents.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. GNFS investigators were on site early Monday morning to begin gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The Service says it will release its findings once investigations are complete.
Market fires have become a recurring challenge in Accra, often fuelled by congested layouts, flammable wooden materials, and late-night activity.
The Dansoman incident has once again raised questions about safety standards and the urgent need for improved fire prevention measures in major markets.
For now, however, the community is mourning the young girl who did not escape the flames — a tragic reminder of the human cost behind market fire outbreaks.
Authorities are urging traders and residents with information that may assist investigations to cooperate fully with the GNFS and the Police.
