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A major fire outbreak has destroyed more than 50 mobile phone shops behind the VVIP Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
The blaze, which occurred on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, started around 10:00 a.m. and spread rapidly through the crowded trading area, popularly known as Circle Tiptoe Lane. Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service were swiftly deployed and managed to bring the inferno under control after several hours of intense efforts.
Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially confirmed, some affected shop owners suspect an electrical fault may have triggered the incident. Preliminary observations by officials also point to possible illegal power connections and poor wiring as contributing factors.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Denis Adjanor Nartey, who visited the scene, announced that the VVIP area at Kwame Nkrumah Circle will be declared a security zone. According to him, unauthorized structures had been erected on fire hydrants in the area, significantly hampering firefighting operations.
He further revealed that several fire hydrants were either blocked or non-functional, making it difficult for firefighters to access water. He added that illegal electricity connections, with multiple wires mounted on a single pole, may have sparked the fire.
Officials from NADMO and the Klotey Korle Municipal Assembly are currently assessing the extent of the damage and coordinating relief efforts for affected traders. Residents and motorists have also been advised to avoid the area until the situation is fully stabilized.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Michael Nii Kpakpo Allotey, has hinted at an impending decongestion exercise across the capital. The planned operation, expected within the next two weeks, aims to restore order to major trading areas and ease congestion, following growing concerns over safety and unauthorized structures in the city.
