Linda Akweley Ocloo
THE GREATER Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo, says operators of the Chinese-owned warehouse, identified as the source of the Lartebiokorshie fire outbreak, will be held responsible for the damage.
Speaking during a scene inspection of the affected areas after the fire outbreak, Madam Ocloo addressed journalists, saying that while officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) are yet to submit an official report on the cause of the fire outbreak, multiple indications show that it was caused by a warehouse owned by some Chinese nationals.
“The fire officers are yet to give us the cause of the fire, which we already know is the fault of the Chinese. So, my point is that if they are the cause, this shouldn’t be a burden for the government.
The warehouse in flames
“And so those affected areas, we are going to tax them to be responsible so that they will take care of the affected houses. So that is all we are going to do,” she said.
The fire, which started around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, destroyed seven houses and left one firefighter injured. The minister stressed that the government would not cover the losses incurred.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Ghana National Fire Service responded to a warehouse fire at Lartebiokorshie near Salvation Army School. At 4 p.m., the GNFS received a distress call and dispatched a response at 4:16 p.m.
The first pump from the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters Substation arrived on the scene at 4:24 p.m. to find the fire well advanced.
Reinforcements followed swiftly, with five (5) additional fire tenders from Industrial Area, Circle, Accra Metro, Ministries, and Flagstaff House Fire Stations, supported by four (4) private water tankers.
After sustained firefighting operations, the blaze was confined at 7:44 p.m. to the affected warehouse, preventing its spread to surrounding residential buildings.
Sadly, two (2) firefighters and one (1) civilian sustained injuries, but all have been treated and are recovering well.
Currently, an earth-moving equipment is assisting firefighters to excavate unburnt debris, ensuring full extinguishment of the deep-seated fire involving leather and plastic footwear materials stored in the warehouse.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke