By: Belinda Nketia
The Ghana National Fire Service has rejected claims that firefighters arrived late at the scene of a major fire outbreak near the Circle VVIP Station on January 20, 2025, around 10:00 a.m.
Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong said the service dispatched its first fire engine at 10:08 a.m., just minutes after receiving the distress call, and arrived at the scene shortly afterward.
“We are on top of our job. It is not true that we got here late,” she said. “We responded on time.”
According to Chief Fire Officer Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, additional fire engines were requested after crews assessed the intensity of the blaze. A total of five fire tenders were eventually deployed to manage the situation as the fire spread across makeshift structures located between the VIP terminal and surrounding commercial areas.
The Chief Fire Officer said the firefighters encountered access challenges caused by congested structures and restricted entry points, which affected how quickly equipment could be positioned at the heart of the fire. Some properties were damaged, while others were salvaged during ongoing containment efforts.
She also dismissed reports suggesting that the nearest fire station lacked operational vehicles at the time of the incident and described such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
“You can see the number of fire engines on the ground. We deployed resources immediately and reinforced our teams when the situation demanded it,” she said.
As of the latest update, firefighters remained at the scene conducting mop-up operations to extinguish remaining hotspots and prevent re-ignition. Authorities have not yet released an official assessment of damages.
This Circle fire adds to the longstanding questioning of emergency response times and operational readiness in Ghana. The Ghana National Fire Service maintains that its response to the fire outbreak met standard emergency protocols.
