The Greater Accra Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, has confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the fire that ravaged the Accra Timber Market in the early hours of Saturday, September 13, 2025.
In an interview on Channel One News, ACFO II Nisawu revealed that preliminary intelligence gathered during firefighting operations pointed to a man who allegedly set rubbish ablaze and left it unattended.
“During firefighting, we usually deploy plainclothes officers to gather information. What we discovered was that this individual collected rubbish, set it on fire, went to sleep, and the situation escalated into the blaze we witnessed,” he explained.
He added that the police acted swiftly upon receiving the information. “Fortunately, this morning the Police Commander informed the Chief Fire Officer — in my presence — that the suspect has been apprehended. As we speak, he is in custody at the James Town Police Station.”
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) received the distress call at 1:17 a.m. and dispatched its first firefighting crew to the scene just four minutes later.
In a full-scale response, seven fire engines were deployed from Accra City, Accra Regional Headquarters Substation, Ministries, Circle, National Headquarters, Abelemkpe, and Legon Fire Stations.
They were supported by a GNFS water tanker and two additional tankers from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Ablekuma Municipal Assembly.
After hours of fierce firefighting, the GNFS managed to confine the flames at 6:26 a.m., brought it under control 11 minutes later, and finally extinguished the blaze completely at 11:44 a.m.
Two firefighters sustained injuries in the operation—one from an electric shock and another from burns to the left arm. Both were treated and discharged, with officials confirming that they are responding well to treatment.
Despite the widespread destruction of shops dealing in timber and hardware materials, adjoining structures, including the Ayalolo Cluster of Schools, were salvaged thanks to the swift intervention of the firefighters.
