An eight-year-old girl who was trapped inside a wooden structure during a fire outbreak at the Dansoman Market on Wednesday dawn has been burnt beyond recognition.
Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started around 10:30 p.m., quickly spreading through wooden sttructures and containers stocked with food items, clothing, and household goods.
Residents and traders who rushed to the scene attempted to control the flames with buckets of water before firefighters arrived.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) the girl was trapped inside a structure where she had been sleeping while her mother, a trader, was out of the said room.
Despite rescue efforts by firefighters, she was found unresponsive.
Regional Fire Officer ACFO Rashid Kwame Nisawu explained that the GNFS received a distress call at 12:02 a.m. about the Dansoman Market fire.
He said a fire engine from the nearby Dansoman Fire Station arrived within two minutes, but the blaze was already at an advanced stage, prompting a call for additional support.
He added that a total of eight fire engines were deployed, and firefighters managed to confine the fire, though work was still underway to prevent it from spreading.
The operation was divided into four sectors, with the fire crew positioned on all sides of the market to battle the flames from multiple angles.
Preliminary investigations by GNFS suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, though officials say a full inquiry is underway to determine the exact source. Several stalls were destroyed, leaving traders counting heavy losses.
Emotional scenes unfolded on Wednesday morning as market women mourned the child, describing her as lively and well-loved in the community.
The mother of the girl, who was inconsolable, was taken to a nearby clinic for medical attention.
Authorities have urged traders to follow fire safety guidelines and report faulty electrical connections promptly to prevent future tragedies.
