A 25-year-old man, Ali Abubakari, has been confirmed dead after a fire gutted an uncompleted fuel station at Ejura Babasso in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality, Ashanti Region.
According to a press statement signed by Divisional Officer II Peter Addai, Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the incident occurred on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, around 12:25 p.m. The fire completely razed the structure, which was reportedly being used to store gallons of petrol illegally.
The Ejura Fire Station received a distress call about a blaze at a facility located at block number E 6264, which was known in the area for retailing petrol in gallons. A fire crew led by Station Officer I Daniels Moah was immediately dispatched and arrived at the scene by 12:31 p.m.
On arrival, the firefighters found the entire structure engulfed in flames. The team managed to bring the fire under control within 10 minutes and successfully extinguished it by 12:55 p.m. However, Mr Abubakari was found dead, having been trapped inside the burning structure.
Following the firefighting operation, a preliminary assessment by the GNFS revealed that the uncompleted building contained six gallons of petrol and twelve bags of beans—six of which were destroyed by the fire. The origin of the fire is still under investigation.
The remains of the deceased have been handed over to the Ejura Police Command to aid in further investigations.
In the official statement, the GNFS cautioned members of the public against the dangerous practice of storing and selling petroleum products in unauthorized or unapproved locations, especially within structures not designated for fuel dispensing.
“This unfortunate incident is a painful reminder of the dangers involved in storing fuel in unsafe locations. We urge the public to desist from such practices to avoid endangering lives and property,” the statement read.
The GNFS also extended its condolences to the bereaved family and reaffirmed its commitment to responding swiftly and professionally to emergencies across the region.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the enforcement of fuel handling regulations in local communities, where informal and illegal petrol sales remain common due to accessibility and economic reasons.
Local residents who witnessed the incident expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic loss of life. Some also urged authorities to clamp down on such fuel storage setups and intensify community education on fire safety and the legal protocols for fuel retail operations.
Ejura, a key municipality in the Ashanti Region, has witnessed several fire-related incidents in recent years, often linked to improper storage of flammable materials, market fires, or electrical faults. The latest tragedy could further prompt calls for tighter regulation and inspections of fuel-related businesses.
The Ejura Police have assured that a full investigation will be carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire, and whether anyone can be held liable for operating an illegal fuel depot.
