The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has confirmed that the fire incident at Maaha Beach Resort was caused by embers from a nearby blaze at Vision Beach, which ignited a thatched roof at the resort on Tuesday, May 28, 2025..
According to the Ellembelle District Fire Commander, DO2 Mark Hamilton, both beaches caught fire, resulting in significant damage. At Vision Beach, 15 rooms, including the kitchen and reception area, were affected. Meanwhile, 18 rooms at Maaha Beach Resort were destroyed.
DO2 Hamilton noted that the Fire Service received a distress call around 7:59 p.m. reporting a fire outbreak at Vision Beach. The Service promptly dispatched its gas tender from the Gas Processing Plant, which arrived within four minutes. A second pump was later deployed, and the fire was fully extinguished by 10:00 p.m.
“The cause of the fire at Maaha Beach Resort can be attributed to embers that flew from the fire at Vision Beach Resort, igniting the thatched roofing and causing the blaze to spread,” he stated.
He further disclosed that a preliminary investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire at Vision Beach, which unfortunately extended to Maaha Beach Resort.
Fire incidents across the country have been on the rise. In the Ashanti Region alone, 80 fire cases were recorded between January 10 and 12.
From January to April 2025, the Ghana National Fire Service responded to 4,496 fire alerts, out of which 2,764 turned out to be actual fire incidents.
The GNFS also reported a total of 6,436 fire incidents nationwide in 2024, representing a 7.75% increase from the 5,973 cases recorded in 2023.
The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fire cases in 2024 with 1,309 incidents, followed by the Ashanti Region (1,145), the Eastern Region (648), and the North East Region, which recorded the lowest with just 15 cases.
The financial toll of these incidents was also significant. Fire-related damages surged from GHȻ177,939,898.20 in 2023 to GHȻ270,352,100.00 in 2024—an increase of GHȻ92,412,201.80, or 51.9%.
However, salvaged properties rose sharply from GHȻ211,766,887.00 in 2023 to GHȻ550,196,972.00 in 2024, marking a 159.8% increase, or GHȻ338,430,085.00