A tragic fire outbreak at an uncompleted fuel station in Ejura has claimed the life of a 25-year-old man, prompting fresh calls from Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to curb the illegal storage of petrol in unauthorized structures.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, July 22, at a partially built facility near the Babasso cemetery in the Ashanti Region. The station, reportedly used for selling fuel in gallons, was engulfed in flames just after midday.
A distress call was received at 12:25 p.m., and a response team led by Station Officer I Daniels Moah from the Ejura Fire Station arrived at the scene within six minutes.
Despite their swift response, the fire had already consumed much of the structure. The crew managed to bring the blaze under control within ten minutes and fully extinguished it by 12:55 p.m.
Tragically, a young man identified as Ali Abubakari lost his life in the incident. His charred remains were retrieved and handed over to the Ejura Police Command for further investigation.
According to a statement by GNFS signed by the Public Relations Officer for Ashanti Regional Fire Command Peter Addai, the uncompleted structure was also used to store gallons of petrol and bags of beans. Six bags were partially burnt, while another six were salvaged.
GNFS expressed condolences to the bereaved family and reiterated the need for public vigilance.
“We urge the public to refrain from storing or dispensing petroleum products in unauthorized or unsafe structures,” the statement said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident adds to growing concerns about fire safety in informal fuel retail operations across Ghana. The GNFS has pledged continued education and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
