The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that late reporting, poor access routes, gas explosions, and illegal electrical connections significantly hampered efforts to contain the fire that gutted more than 50  shops behind the VVIP Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

The blaze, which broke out at about 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, was eventually brought under control, but not before causing extensive damage, according to eyewitnesses and authorities.

Speaking on Channel One TV, DOII Desmond Ackah, Head of Public Affairs at GNFS, said firefighters faced multiple challenges.

“The number one challenge was the late call-up.

Anytime we have received late calls to emergencies, by the time we get there, things would have degenerated into what we don't want to witness,” he said.

On difficulties accessing the fire, Ackah explained: “We had a difficult time even gaining access to where the fire was actually raging.

And in professional firefighting, when you don't have direct access, then it means that you would have to spend some time to lay more hoses… You need more water to be able to contain a particular fire like that.

”He described how gas cylinders and stoves worsened the blaze: “The too many gas cylinders and stoves that were found in that particular space… intermittently, as the fire breaks, you could hear some explosions here and there, and that also escalated the situation.

”Closely-packed structures and unsafe electrical wiring further complicated the operation: “Another challenge that we had initially… was the haphazard connection of wires… initially, it created some form of electrocution for our people.

Until such a time, we had to… isolate power from that area.

”Ackah also noted the lack of fire hydrants: “If there were enough alleys where the fire engines could access… we could have saved more of the structures than we did,” he said, adding that five water tankers had to be mobilised to contain the blaze.

The Assembly has begun clearing the site for reconstruction and has instructed traders to await official guidance before resuming operations.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, and the GNFS says the recommendations from the report will guide safer redevelopment.

Authorities hope the reconstruction will prioritise proper emergency access, regulated electrical connections, and other safety measures to prevent a repeat of the disaster.