A family of seven, including five children, has died in a tragic fire at Akyempim in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Dunkwa-On-Offin Fire Station received a distress call around 1:04 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, and swiftly dispatched a crew to the scene.
Firefighters arrived at 1:20 a.m. to find one of the bedrooms in a four-bedroom house completely engulfed in flames and locked from the outside. The team managed to bring the fire under control within minutes, but seven occupants — two adults and five children aged between one and 15 years — were found dead inside.
Preliminary investigations point to arson. The husband of one of the deceased women is suspected of deliberately setting the blaze after locking his family inside. He reportedly fled into a nearby bush after the act, where he was later discovered dead, believed to have taken his own life.
The charred remains of the victims have been handed over to the police for further investigation, while the suspect’s body was retrieved from the bush.
In a statement signed by Divisional Officer Grade Two (DO II) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, Central Regional PRO of the GNFS, the Service expressed its condolences to the bereaved family and community.
“The Ghana National Fire Service remains committed to saving lives and protecting property, and continues to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all citizens,” the statement said.
