We’re working to provide shelter for police officers displaced after barracks fire — Interior Minister

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has assured that immediate accommodation will be provided for police officers and their families affected by the recent fire outbreak at the Accra Central Police Barracks.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, June 3, extensively damaged the Accra Central Police Barracks Annex, destroying 32 rooms and their contents, as well as a one-storey building within the facility.

The fire left several officers and their families displaced after losing personal belongings and property in the blaze.

Speaking to the media on Thursday during a visit to the scene, the Interior Minister said government was prioritising the welfare of the affected officers while plans are put in place to reconstruct the damaged structures.

“Our main focus now is to house them, because these are serving officers, so you can't leave them like that. The IGP has been instructed to do whatever possible to make sure that by close of today or tomorrow everybody is housed,” he said.

Mr Muntaka explained that temporary arrangements, including hotel accommodation and rented premises, were being considered to ensure affected families have immediate shelter.

He added that government would also work towards replacing the damaged structures with more modern facilities that are better equipped to withstand emergencies.

“We need to quickly come out with measures to replace this structure with maybe a more modern and more well-equipped facility that could deal with fire easily, so we are on top of it,” the Minister stated.

The Interior Minister noted that relief items would be provided through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to support affected families, many of whom lost all their possessions in the fire.

He also commended the Inspector-General of Police, the Ghana National Fire Service and other emergency responders for their efforts in containing the blaze.

According to him, while significant property was lost, the absence of fatalities remains a major relief.