Fire damages SIC building in Takoradi, no casualties reported so far

Pinned summary · as of 16:54

Fire tore through sections of the State Insurance Company (SIC) premises in Takoradi, Western Region, on Wednesday, 16 September. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) sent crews to contain the blaze, and no deaths or injuries had been reported when the first accounts were filed.

What we know

• A fire damaged sections of the SIC building in Takoradi, and GNFS firefighters went to the scene.
• Commercial offices and a media studio operated from the building, and they suffered damage to their premises and equipment.
• Nobody was reported killed or seriously hurt at the time of the reports, and workers were moved away from the affected areas.
• What started the fire has not been established, and the GNFS is expected to investigate further.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Onua Online reported that the blaze began at about 9:30am at the studio of New Day TV and spread through parts of the first, second and third floors, including the SIC Life Marketing Office and the Accounts Office. Rainbow Radio Online did not give these details.
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  Onua Online quoted ADO I Linda Pongo, the GNFS Western Region Public Relations Officer, as saying that sound-absorbing foam and plastic ceiling materials made the fire more intense. It also reported that the service got a distress call at about 9:32am and sent crews from the Sekondi, Apremdo and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority stations, using three fire tenders. No other report carries these details.
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  An unnamed eyewitness told Onua Online that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority firefighters had to wait for ECG to cut power to the building before they could start. This account has not been confirmed.
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  Rainbow Radio Online reported that firefighters initially struggled to find access points to reach the main seat of the fire, that bystanders saw dark smoke rise and that workers and residents fled in panic, and that the GNFS cordoned off the area. These details come from that report alone.
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  Onua Online said protective and offshore gear that Greenfields stored inside was reportedly hit by the fire, and that the value of the damage had not yet been worked out.
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  The Press Radio reported that videos on social media showed flames and smoke from the upper part of the building, and cited a post on X by the account SIKAOFFICIAL that said parts of the upper floors were destroyed. The Press Radio said the extent of damage and any injuries were unclear when it reported, and that assessment by authorities and company officials was still to come.

Why it matters for Ghana

The SIC building holds insurance offices that serve customers in Takoradi and the wider Western Region, so damaged offices and records could disrupt services and paperwork for policyholders. Businesses next door were a concern for firefighters, and the damage to a local television studio affects its staff and viewers. The cause and the value of the losses are still to be determined.