A devastating fire outbreak at Dunkwa Akyempim in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of Ghana’s Central Region has claimed the lives of seven members of a single family.
According to a report from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, 2025. Firefighters from the Dunkwa-On-Offin Fire Station responded swiftly after receiving a distress call at 1:04 a.m.
Upon arrival at approximately 1:20 a.m., fire personnel discovered that one of the bedrooms in a four-bedroom home was already engulfed in flames, with the door padlocked. Through tactical firefighting efforts, the blaze was brought under control by 1:32 a.m., preventing it from spreading to the rest of the house.
Tragically, all seven occupants of the locked room — five children aged between one and fifteen, their mother, and the eldest daughter — could not be rescued.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the woman’s husband may have deliberately set the fire before fleeing into a nearby bush, where he was later found dead, suspected to have taken his own life.
The charred remains of the victims have been handed over to the Ghana Police Service at Akyekyim for further investigation.
The Ghana National Fire Service has expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and urged the public to remain vigilant and practice fire safety at all times.
Citizens are encouraged to report fire emergencies immediately by dialing 112, 0201500360, or 0302772446 to enable quick response and save lives and property.
The Service reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and continues to work diligently to ensure the safety of all Ghanaians.
