Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has given squatters at Avenor in the North Industrial Area 24 hours to leave the site following a fire outbreak that reportedly claimed one life.
The Mayor said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had previously instructed occupants of the area to vacate, but many had remained despite the notices.
Speaking after the fire, Mr Allotey said the affected area would not be reopened for residents to return once the evacuation is completed.
“We have already given them notice to vacate this place, but they are still here. After this fire, we are not going to allow anybody to come back and resettle here. They have 24 hours to vacate the area,” he said in an interview with Adom FM.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday, October 1, at Avenor, affecting a PVC warehouse and adjoining wooden structures. Firefighters, police and ambulance personnel were deployed to the area as efforts were made to contain the blaze.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
The Mayor said he had received information that one person had died but cautioned that authorities were still gathering details to establish the full circumstances surrounding the reported casualty.
Residents in the affected enclave had earlier described a chaotic situation, with some people reportedly struggling to escape as flames spread through the area. Witnesses also claimed that several people could have been trapped, although the Ghana National Fire Service had not initially confirmed the casualty figures.
