Eastern Regional Minister Orders Demolition of Fire-Ravaged Building in Koforidua to Ensure Public Safety

The Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has issued a directive for the immediate demolition of a one-storey building in Koforidua following a devastating fire on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The structure, located near the busy Jackson Park traffic lights in the Srodae suburb, suffered severe structural damage, including the collapse of its upper floor. Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey issued the order after a formal inspection determined that the building posed a significant risk to the public and surrounding properties.

The blaze, which broke out around 11 p.m., ravaged several commercial and domestic units within the property. Among the businesses completely destroyed were the Kwaku Showboy Boutique and Mama Pee Collection, with owners reporting the loss of significant amounts of stock and personal belongings. While the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was dispatched promptly and successfully contained the flames within a few hours, the intensity of the fire caused the upper floor to cave in and compromised parts of the ground floor’s structural stability.

Following the incident, Regional Minister Awatey and other security officials conducted a site assessment to evaluate the aftermath. The inspection team concluded that the building's integrity had been permanently compromised, making demolition the only viable option to prevent a spontaneous collapse in such a high-traffic area. The REGSEC directive emphasizes that the safety of residents and pedestrians is the primary concern, as the building sits in a central location where further structural failure could lead to additional casualties.

While the GNFS has been commended for preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, the incident has sparked calls from local residents for better resourcing of the regional fire service. Witnesses and business owners noted that while firefighters responded quickly, inadequate equipment continues to hinder emergency operations in the regional capital. Investigations into the exact cause of the fire are currently underway by the National Fire Service, while the demolition process is expected to begin shortly to clear the site and mitigate ongoing dangers to the Koforidua community.