A suspect has been arrested by the Ghana Police Service in connection with the inferno that razed down the Accra Timber Market in the early hours of Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, confirmed the arrest on Channel One TV.
According to ACFO II Nisawu, the intelligence gathered by fire officers during their firefighting operations revealed the man allegedly burnt some rubbish at the place and left it unattended.
“Indeed through the firefighting, what normally we do is that during the firefighting we also deploy some plainclothed officers to fish out for information. And what we gathered was that, there is this gentleman who gathers some rubbish around and set it on fire, went to sleep and this thing degenerated and that is the result we are having,” he explained.
“The good thing is that this morning, the Police Commander came to report to the Chief Fire Officer — I was around — that they have been able to apprehend the gentleman and currently, as we speak, the alleged suspect is now in police custody at James Town Police Station,” he added.
The fire, which broke out near Aayalolo School at 1:17 a.m., destroyed several shops selling wooden planks and hardware. Seven fire engines from stations across Accra, backed by one GNFS water tanker and two others from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Ablekuma Municipal Assembly, battled the blaze.
The flames were contained by 6:26 a.m., brought under control by 6:37 a.m., and fully extinguished by 11:44 a.m.
Two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation — one from an electric shock and another with burns on the arm. Both have since been treated and discharged.
Despite the damage to the market, firefighters successfully protected nearby buildings, including the Ayalolo cluster of schools, from the inferno.
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