Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have successfully contained a major blaze that gutted several shops at Kantamanto’s Tazani Lane, near Ecobank, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the Service received the distress call at approximately 1:31 a.m. Fire crews from Circle, Industrial Area, Accra Regional Headquarters, Madina, and Legon stations, along with two appliances from the National Headquarters, were swiftly deployed to the scene.
In total, seven fire engines and a Turntable Ladder were used to combat the flames, which spread through parts of the busy commercial area. The first appliance reportedly arrived at 1:42 a.m., and teams battled the fire for over three hours before finally confining it at 4:49 a.m.
The Acting Chief Fire Officer, Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, visited the scene to assess the damage and oversee response efforts. She was joined by the Director of Operations, the Greater Accra Regional Commander, and other senior officers.
While no civilian injuries have been reported, one firefighter suffered smoke inhalation and asphyxiation during the operation. He was given immediate first aid before being transported to the hospital by personnel from the National Ambulance Service.
Fire officers say a full investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the incident.
Kantamanto remains one of Accra’s busiest trading centers and has a long history of fire outbreaks that have caused severe losses to traders.
