Bus catches fire on Accra–Sefwi Asawinso Road, fire tender breaks down en route

Passengers escaped unharmed but lost personal belongings.

A commercial bus traveling from Accra to Sefwi Asawinso with registration number GE-8264-19 caught fire around 7:50 a.m. on Thursday morning.

All passengers survived, though several personal belongings were destroyed in the blaze.

Some passengers told reporters that they noticed smoke coming from the back seat of the vehicle and immediately alerted the driver. However, they alleged that he initially refused to stop. The driver later explained that a torn fan belt had sparked the fire, but declined to provide further details on camera.

Western North Regional Fire Commander, ACFO Philip Kudzo Amagnoh, told AKOMA FM that the firefighting effort was hampered because the only functioning fire tender dispatched to the scene broke down on its way.

“This incident shows the urgent need for the government to provide our command with adequate logistics to handle emergencies,” ACFO Amagnoh stressed.

He added that the absence of reliable equipment could have worsened the situation, but quick action by passengers prevented any casualties.

Meanwhile, a tragic accident near Yamoransa on the Cape Coast–Accra highway has claimed five lives and left 12 others injured, according to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

The crash occurred on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Wakrom Junction, where a DAF truck loaded with 700 bags of rice collided with a Toyota Hiace passenger vehicle. The GNFS Rescue Team from the Central Regional Headquarters arrived at the scene at 2:59 p.m., minutes after receiving a distress call.

“Upon arrival, our team commenced swift rescue operations and managed to extricate five victims from the wreckage,” the GNFS statement confirmed. “Sadly, four of them were pronounced dead at the hospital, while one is critically injured and receiving treatment.”

The Service further revealed that 12 passengers had been rushed to the hospital before their team arrived. Unfortunately, one of those passengers later died, raising the confirmed death toll to five.

In all, the accident resulted in 17 casualties—five confirmed dead and 12 others injured. The driver and mate of the DAF truck, however, escaped unhurt.

The GNFS also noted that the accident caused heavy traffic on the busy Cape Coast–Accra highway as emergency responders worked to save lives and clear the road. “We urge motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving, especially along accident-prone stretches like Yamoransa,” the statement added.