The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, has raised concerns about the use of residential facilities in the Central Business District (CBD) as unauthorized warehouses, following a fire that ravaged parts of Zongo Lane near Rawlings Park on Sunday. 

The blaze consumed a wide range of stored items, including plastics, shoes and mattresses.

Hon. Sackey, who visited the scene with a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), yesterday assured the public of an operation to deal with the individuals responsible for converting residential spaces into warehouses. 

She emphasized that such practices contribute significantly to the rapid spread of fires and endanger lives and property as most of the items stored were highly inflammable. 

The Mayor attributed the severity of the blaze to the hazardous storage of combustible materials, which escalated the risk of explosions and complicated rescue efforts. 

She called for immediate action to prevent future incidents, urging shop owners to temporarily vacate the area to prevent further loss of life and property.

Mayor Sackey commended the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for their prompt response, noting that their efforts were vital in containing the fire and preventing more extensive damage and mentioned the challenges posed by unauthorized constructions in the area, which hinder the enforcement of building standards and contribute to such disasters.

To address these issues, the Mayor assured stricter supervision of building regulations, particularly in enforcing the 10-feet regulation and urged relevant developers to ensure compliance to ensure public safety.

Roberta Aggrey Ghanson, Deputy Chief Officer and Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS confirmed that fire service personnel were adequately resourced to combat the fire.

 she said two private water tankers were deployed to supplement the GNFS’s water supply efforts assuring that resources were sufficient to continue battling the blaze beyond the day.

The GNFS commander also expressed concern for residents who remained near the affected area despite warnings from authorities and urged cooperation from the public to ensure their safety.

Commander Ghanson also stressed the importance of adhering to physical planning and building laws and called on real estate investors and developers to comply with these regulations, noting that proper enforcement could prevent such disasters in the future.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.