The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced plans to construct a residential housing complex of single-room accommodation for residents of Kofikrom, a squatter settlement at Avenor in the North Industrial Area, following a devastating fire outbreak that destroyed numerous makeshift structures and spread to adjoining industrial facilities, including parts of plastics manufacturer Duraplast Ghana.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the AMA, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, disclosed the initiative when he visited the community to inspect the ongoing collection of debris following the fire. The proposed project, to be undertaken with support from corporate institutions, is expected to replace the settlement’s predominantly wooden structures with permanent block buildings, complemented by streetlights, walkways, improved sanitation facilities and tarred access roads to transform the area into a safer, cleaner and more organised residential community.
A Community in the Shadow of Industry
Kofikrom sits within the Okaikoi South Sub-Metropolitan District, an enclave where residential occupation and industrial activity have long existed side by side. The settlement is not merely an industrial zone but also home to hundreds of residents, many of whom work night shifts in surrounding factories. The area had been marked for demolition since at least 2022, when the AMA earmarked over 100 illegal structures on a storm drain for removal to avert perennial flooding. Occupants were subsequently served a notice to vacate by May 29, 2026, but many remained at the site.
The 1 October Inferno
The fire that brought the long-simmering issue to a head broke out in the early hours of Thursday, 1 October 2026, around 7:30 a.m. at Kofikrom, near the ECG Avenor office. The blaze quickly intensified, sending thick plumes of smoke across the industrial enclave and forcing residents, traders and workers to flee.
Eyewitnesses suggested the fire was triggered by a gas cylinder explosion. According to one account, a woman had been cooking for her children and left the cylinder under the supervision of a child, who allegedly increased the gas flow, causing an explosion. Marketing Manager of Duraplast, Emmanuel Donkor, who arrived at the facility around 6:45 a.m., said the fire started from illegal structures behind the company’s wall. “The challenge currently here is the illegal structures here; that is where the fire started from,” he said. He disclosed that the company’s fire hydrants were empty at the time of the incident, forcing the company to contact Ghana Water for emergency support. “All our pipes have been destroyed,” he said.
Firefighting operations were hampered by poor access. Cargo trucks and the absence of accessible roads blocked routes to the fire scene, while large quantities of plastic materials in the area fuelled the blaze. The military intervened to support firefighting efforts, with the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces clearing temporary structures blocking access routes to allow fire engines to move closer to the affected areas. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah said personnel had been deployed to support the AMA in clearing structures that impeded the movement of emergency vehicles.
Reports of fatalities initially remained unconfirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service. “We can’t confirm any dead person at this stage. Any other reports you are hearing are hearsay,” said ADO1 Alex King Nartey of the GNFS Public Relations team. However, unconfirmed reports suggested that two children — a baby and a toddler — were feared dead in the blaze. The National Ambulance Service later confirmed that eight people received medical attention.
A 24-Hour Ultimatum and Demolition
Speaking to Accra-based Adom FM on the day of the fire, Mayor Allotey issued a 24-hour ultimatum to residents to vacate the area. “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 stated.
The AMA, with support from the 48 Engineer Regiment, subsequently demolished unauthorised structures at Kofikrom after occupants failed to comply. The demolition targeted wooden and other temporary structures that had encroached on portions of the road, restricting access for fire tenders, water tankers and other emergency vehicles. The Mayor explained that the exercise was not a spontaneous response to the fire, noting that occupants had been given prior notice and a final deadline of May 29. He said structures within the settlement had also been marked ahead of the exercise. “Access roads within industrial areas must remain open at all times to facilitate emergency response and protect lives and property,” he said.
Free Housing, But No Ownership
Addressing residents at the site during his visit to inspect debris collection, Mr Allotey said the proposed accommodation would be provided free of charge and would neither be rented nor sold to beneficiaries, stressing that the land remained government property.
Drawing on his personal experiences growing up on the streets, the Mayor said his background had given him a deeper appreciation of the difficulties confronting vulnerable people. “We all we dey a street top. The reason why I’m not scared of the street. I’m coming from the street. And the street never forgets,” he declared, reiterating his commitment to improving the living conditions of the affected residents.
He explained that the proposed redevelopment would involve the construction of rows of single-storey buildings containing individual rooms, while corporate partners would be engaged to support the provision of roofing materials, street lighting, walkways and other essential infrastructure. Mr Allotey cautioned that the initiative would not confer ownership rights on beneficiaries, emphasising that no individual or group would be permitted to sell, rent out or exercise unauthorised control over the facilities. He warned that drug abuse, the sale of illicit substances and activities associated with gang leadership would not be tolerated in the redeveloped community, stressing that the project was intended to promote discipline, security and peaceful coexistence.
As part of preparations for the project, the Mayor directed residents to select five representatives to serve as a liaison between the community and the Assembly during consultations and implementation. On the construction timeline, he expressed optimism that the project could be executed within a relatively short period because the proposed buildings would be simple, single-storey structures rather than complex multi-level developments.
A Mayor With a Personal Mission
Michael Kpakpo Allotey was unanimously confirmed as Metropolitan Chief Executive of the AMA in May 2025, securing 30 votes — 100% of the total vote cast by assembly members — and was sworn in by Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo. Prior to his appointment, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Our God Is Good Real Estate, where he spearheaded key housing initiatives. His real estate background is likely to inform the Kofikrom redevelopment, which he has framed as both a humanitarian intervention and a long-overdue restructuring of a settlement that had become a hazard to itself and to surrounding industry.
A Longstanding Warning Ignored
The Kofikrom fire is the latest in a series of warnings about the dangers of unauthorised settlements in industrial areas of Accra. The AMA had flagged the community’s vulnerability to flooding and fire for years, and the May 2026 vacation deadline was the culmination of a long enforcement process. The fire demonstrated with brutal clarity what the Assembly had warned about: blocked access roads, proximity to combustible industrial materials, and a built environment that left residents with no safe escape routes.
Whether the new housing project will materialise — and how quickly — remains to be seen. The Mayor has expressed optimism, citing the simplicity of the proposed structures. But financing depends on corporate partnerships that have yet to be named, and the five resident representatives tasked with liaising between the community and the Assembly must still be selected. For the residents of Kofikrom, the promise of permanent, dignified housing is welcome. The challenge will be ensuring that this time, the rubble is replaced not with another makeshift settlement, but with the safe, regulated community the Mayor has pledged to build.
