A devastating fire has destroyed several businesses near Nogora Junction, just a few meters from Ho Technical University, with affected shop owners pointing fingers at intermittent power outages — locally called dumsor — as the likely cause.
The inferno, which broke out on Tuesday, August 13, engulfed more than five shops, including a popular pub and food joint, a boutique, and a printing press. Thick clouds of smoke billowed into the afternoon sky, drawing large crowds of onlookers as firefighters raced to the scene.
Fire crews from the Ho Municipal Fire Command, led by Divisional Officer II Seth Tey, battled the flames for nearly two hours before bringing them under control. “Six containers were involved in the fire outbreak,” Mr. Tey told journalists. “Because of the intensity, it took significant effort to contain the blaze. An investigation is underway, but we cannot confirm the cause at this stage.”
Preliminary estimates suggest that the damage runs into millions of Ghana cedis. Business owners have been left counting their losses, attempting to salvage goods and clear charred debris from the site.
One shop owner, speaking to Citi News, blamed the disaster on the town’s persistent power supply issues.
“The power was intermittent. Thank God I was there alone. I had just moved to the boutique, and before I knew it, the fire had consumed everything — there was fire everywhere. By the time I tried to call for help, it had already spread,” she recounted. “We’ve been facing this dumsor problem for a long time. I’m always repairing my fridge. The damage here is about GHC 1 million, including my neighbours’ losses, though I can’t speak for them.”
The incident has sparked renewed frustration among residents and business operators over the economic toll of unstable electricity supply. As the Fire Service continues its investigations, shop owners say they hope for swift answers — and urgent measures to prevent a repeat of such a catastrophe.
