An eight-year-old girl has died after being trapped in a wooden structure during a fire that swept through the Dansoman Market in the early hours of Wednesday. Paramedics confirmed her death at the scene.
Eyewitnesses said the fire began around 10:30 p.m. and quickly moved through rows of wooden structures and containers filled with goods ranging from foodstuffs to clothing and household items. Residents and traders tried to slow the blaze with buckets of water before firefighters arrived.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service, the child had been asleep inside one of the wooden rooms while her mother, a trader, was away. Despite efforts by firefighters, she could not be rescued.
Regional Fire Officer ACFO Rashid Kwame Nisawu explained that the first distress call came in at 12:02 a.m. A fire engine from the Dansoman Fire Station got to the scene within minutes, but the flames had already intensified, leading to calls for more support. In total, eight fire engines were deployed, with the team working from four directions to bring the situation under control.
Preliminary findings point to a possible electrical fault, though investigators are still working to confirm the cause. Several stalls were lost, leaving many traders devastated.
Market women broke down in tears on Wednesday morning as they mourned the young girl, describing her as cheerful and well-known in the area. Her mother, who was inconsolable, was taken to a nearby clinic for care.
Authorities are urging traders to pay close attention to fire safety and to report any electrical problems early to help prevent future incidents.
