Seven burnt to death in suspected arson attack at Dunkwa Akyempim

A family of seven, which includes five children, has tragically lost their lives in a catastrophic fire that consumed their residence in Akyempim, located in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region, during the early hours of Saturday, November 1, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Dunkwa-On-Offin Fire Station received an emergency call at 1:04 a.m. and promptly dispatched a team to the location.

Upon arrival at 1:20 a.m., the firefighters discovered that one of the bedrooms in the four-bedroom house was entirely engulfed in flames and had been locked from the outside.

The GNFS team managed to contain the fire by 1:32 a.m., preventing it from spreading to the remainder of the house.

Unfortunately, seven individuals, comprising two adults and five children aged between one and 15 years, were trapped inside and could not be saved.

Initial investigations indicate that the husband of the deceased woman intentionally started the fire.

The suspect is said to have locked the victims in the bedroom before igniting the flames and subsequently fled into a nearby bush, where it is believed he took his own life.

The charred remains of the victims were turned over to the Ghana Police Service at Atekyim for further investigation.

Subsequently, police found the suspect’s body hanging from a tree in the adjacent bush.

In a statement signed by Divisional Officer Grade Two (DO II) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, the Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, the Service expressed its heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and community.

“The Ghana National Fire Service remains committed to its core mandate of saving lives and protecting property and continues to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all citizens,” the statement concluded.