Fire Destroys Sunyani Magistrate Courts
Blaze wipes out court records and equipment as firefighters struggle with water shortages
- Early morning fire razes District Magistrate Courts ‘A’ and ‘B’ in Sunyani
- Critical documents, computers, and equipment completely destroyed
- Firefighters face severe water shortages and logistical setbacks during response
A fire has gutted the District Magistrate Courts ‘A’ and ‘B’ in Sunyani, destroying vital records, computers, and other essential equipment, in a major setback for judicial operations in the Bono Region.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday, around 3:00 a.m., and completely consumed the court complex, leaving nothing recoverable.
The Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, ADO I Kwame Adomako Antwi, confirmed the scale of destruction.
“Wood, chairs, documents, computers, air conditioners—everything was razed by the fire,” he said.
Initial response efforts were delayed because the incident was reported through a “running caller,” meaning someone had to physically go to a fire station to raise the alarm.
Firefighters from the Sunyani Fire Station were first on the scene, with additional support from two fire tenders dispatched from the Abesim Fire Station.
However, the operation was hampered by significant challenges. The first fire tender ran out of water, while a second vehicle broke down on its way to assist. Attempts to find additional water sources within the metropolis proved unsuccessful.
“After combing the entire Sunyani metropolis, we could not get water. Even the fire hydrants were dry,” ADO I Antwi explained.
The shortage of water slowed efforts to contain the blaze, allowing it to spread and destroy everything inside the court buildings.
Firefighters eventually managed to bring the fire under control after several hours, but by then the damage was complete.
