Kumasi, March 24, 2025 – The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Ashanti Region has dismissed allegations that fire tenders at the scene of the Adum Blue Light fire lacked water.
According to D.O. II Peter Addai, the Public Relations Officer of GNFS in the region, all fire trucks were filled with water and positioned strategically to fight the flames.
“Water was never an issue. Even the assembly provided additional water to support our efforts,” he stated in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
Firefighters Faced Accessibility Challenges
The fire, which erupted in the early hours of Friday, March 21, caused significant damage to several shops before it was fully extinguished by Sunday morning.
D.O. II Addai noted that one of the biggest challenges was accessing the fire.
“Initially, we had no access to the fire. We had to request excavators to create a pathway and assess the intensity of the flames,” he explained.
Additionally, many of the nearby fire hydrants were dry, forcing the service to rely on water tankers provided by the assembly.
“Because of the measures we put in place, water was not a problem,” he emphasized.
Minister’s Criticism Sparks Controversy
The fire sparked a confrontation between Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, and the fire service.
In a viral video, the minister expressed frustration over what he described as a slow response and questioned why a fire truck at the scene reportedly had no water.
However, GNFS has blamed poor access to fire hydrants, which are maintained by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
“Many hydrants have become old, and GWCL is responsible for their servicing and maintenance,” Addai stated.
Call for Infrastructure Improvement
Following the incident, GNFS is urging the government to improve access to hydrants and invest in better fire-fighting infrastructure to prevent similar challenges in future outbreaks.
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