A catastrophic fire swept through a sixteen-bedroom house in Gongnia, located within the Navrongo Municipality, on the morning of Friday, November 29, 2024.
The inferno, described as relentless and merciless, completely consumed everything in its path, leaving the tenants displaced and devastated.
According to preliminary investigation conducted by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the fire was triggered by an electrical fault originating from the electricity meter of the residential facility, owned by the well-known businessman Kappa. Witnesses reported that the blaze ignited around 9 a.m., quickly escalating as it spread to engulf the entire residence.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the tragedy. Tenants and neighbours alike watched in horror as the fire consumed the property with astonishing speed.
Personal belongings including clothing, furniture, kitchenware, important documents, electronic gadgets, and even motorbikes were reduced to ashes.
One tenant, recounting the harrowing event, shared, “all of us left home for work and there was only one person in the house. There was also another person sleeping in her room. So, according to the one who was home, she saw smoke coming from one of the meters.
“She said she quickly called the one sleeping in her room to wake up and they then called for help. But by the time the fire service arrived, the fire had spread to the other parts of the building.”
Firefighters from the Navrongo Fire Command arrived and battled the blaze, but it took considerable effort and time before they could bring it under control.
Even after the flames were extinguished, the aftermath revealed the full extent of the devastation. Charred walls, broken furniture, and unrecognisable debris stood as haunting reminders of the once-bustling residence.
Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident. However, the emotional and material toll on the tenants was immense. Many tenants lamented the loss of their possessions, which included irreplaceable documents and cherished items.
One tenant, visibly shaken, explained, “None of us was able to save anything from our rooms—not even the person who was present when the fire started. Everything is gone. My important documents, my clothes, everything I’ve worked for over the years—it’s all gone.”
