The heartbreaking death of a five-year-old girl in a kiosk fire at Adjei-Kojo Suncity, within the Tema West Municipality, has thrown the community into mourning and raised fresh concerns about safety measures in informal housing settlements.
Yayra Hannah Agbeve, a nursery-two pupil, lost her life early Sunday morning after the wooden structure she was sleeping in caught fire under unexplained circumstances. Her charred body was later recovered and sent to the morgue by the police.
Her mother, Madam Joyce Agbeve, recounted that she had left for church, with Yayra following shortly after. The young girl, however, returned home alone to sleep, reportedly feeling unwell. Moments later, flames engulfed the kiosk, trapping her inside.
“I don’t know what could have caused the fire,” Madam Agbeve sobbed, insisting there was no power connection, nor did she use any gas, candle, or coil that might have ignited the blaze. “Even the coal pot is outside. Why only my kiosk?”
Eyewitness Charles Agyiri reported that church service was interrupted when another child ran in screaming that her sister was burning. By the time residents reached the scene, the structure was consumed by flames, and no rescue could be attempted.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of safety conditions in densely packed wooden housing zones, which often lack proper regulation, emergency exits, or access to firefighting resources. Notably, the Ghana National Fire Service was not informed in time to respond.
Assembly Member for Adjei-Kojo, Ms. Charity Dela Siame, visited the scene and urged the Ghana Police Service to launch a full investigation into the cause of the fire. She also emphasized the broader issue of fire risks in unregulated wooden structures and appealed to residents to prioritize safety.
“This tragedy must serve as a wake-up call,” Ms. Siame said. “We cannot continue to ignore the fire hazards in these makeshift homes. Residents using gas or open flames must be extremely cautious.”
Ms. Siame further called on NADMO and the Tema West Member of Parliament to support the grieving mother, and advocated for stronger community education on fire prevention and child safety.
The tragic loss of young Yayra has left a scar on the Adjei-Kojo community, spotlighting the vulnerability of low-income families living in improvised housing—and the urgent need for proactive fire safety enforcement and social protection support.
