A fire that erupted mid‑morning at the High Tension area of Kasoa gutted 15 container shops, ranging from mobile phones to electrical appliances and wood crafts. The blaze was reportedly sparked by an electrical fault, according to a preliminary assessment by the National Disaster Management Organisation.
Emergency responders from the Weija Fire Station arrived after the fire had already spread, only to be met with stone‑throwing from some residents who accused them of arriving too late. The incident highlighted the breakdown of fire tenders at both the Kasoa and Buduburam fire stations, which reportedly delayed the response.
Assemblyman Shadrach Boakye Yiadom of the American Town Electoral Area condemned the attack and urged authorities to repair the faulty equipment. “We called the Kasoa Fire Service and we were told their vehicle had broken down, same with Buduburam. I don’t understand why my people resorted to pelting stones at them,” he said. Mr Boakye Yiadom called for residents to help contain fires rather than assault emergency responders and stressed the need to address equipment challenges facing the fire service.
Local resident Mr Boateng echoed the frustration, saying the nearby Kasoa station could not respond because their fire tender was broken. He urged authorities to fix the tenders so citizens would be safe.
Owners of the damaged shops have yet to quantify their losses and are concerned about rebuilding. NADMO’s Awutu Senya East Director Nash Nyandey noted that congestion in the area had been a concern and that the organisation would use the incident to clear the area and restore order.
The next steps will involve repairing the broken fire tenders, assessing the full extent of the damage, and determining compensation for the affected shop owners. Residents are advised to cooperate with authorities and avoid further aggression towards emergency personnel.
