A fire outbreak has swept through parts of the Dagombaline slum in Kumasi, destroying several makeshift structures and leaving hundreds of residents homeless.
Although no casualties were recorded, many affected residents have been displaced and are currently seeking temporary shelter with friends and relatives.
The fire, which broke out around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, spread rapidly due to the congested nature of the settlement and the use of highly flammable materials in the construction of the structures.
Victims say the fire struck without warning, leaving them with no time to salvage their belongings.
“Everything I had was inside. I couldn’t even save my documents. Now we don’t know where to sleep,” said Abdul Kadir, one of the victims.
Despite the swift response by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, more than one hundred wooden structures were completely reduced to ashes.
Another victim, Samira Jibril, described the loss as devastating.
“It’s not easy to lose all your investment in a single day. The fire has consumed our livelihoods,” she said.
In spite of the devastation, some affected residents have already begun rebuilding, determined to start life afresh.
“We know city authorities have not given us the go-ahead to rebuild, but as it stands, we cannot wait because we have nowhere to sleep,” explained Ishau Abdulai.
The Ghana National Fire Service has, however, urged city authorities to ensure that any rebuilding efforts are properly planned and structured to allow easy access in the event of future emergencies.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
