A fire erupted shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday at the SIC Insurance PLC building in Takoradi, Ghana, setting ablaze several offices and the studios of local television station New Day TV. The blaze began in the TV station’s studio, according to an eyewitness who told Channel One News that workers were holding a meeting when the fire started.
Attempts by occupants to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers proved ineffective, forcing the building’s occupants to call the Ghana National Fire Service. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and deployed several fire tenders to bring the blaze under control.
Princess Ann, the eyewitness, explained to Channel One News that she lives nearby and rushed to the scene as soon as she heard about the outbreak. She recounted,
"I was told the New Day TV station workers were having a meeting when the fire broke out. They tried to put it out but were not successful, leading to the fire getting worse by the time they called the Fire Service,"she said.
So far, authorities have reported no severe injuries or casualties. The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage remain undetermined, with investigations pending.
The incident has prompted an urgent review of fire safety protocols at the SIC Insurance building and the New Day TV studio, as both facilities are key to the local media landscape in Takoradi.
Firefighters are expected to conduct a thorough assessment of the damaged premises in the coming days, and officials will likely issue recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
