Midnight Fire Destroys Sunyani Courts, Burns Legal Files

Sunyani Circuit Court and District Court “B” complex in Sunyani has been razed by a midnight fire that destroyed court records, offices, and property.

Reports say the fire began at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2026, and tore through major parts of the building before it was brought under control. The extent of the destruction became clear at daybreak: charred walls, shattered windows, and gutted offices revealed the true ferocity of the blaze.

It reduced large sections of the court complex to ashes and left courtrooms filled with debris and burnt remains of furniture.

The Bono Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Grade I (ACFOI) Cecil Addo, told journalists that the damage was total and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

“The extent of damage is total,” he said, adding that investigations are underway to find out what caused the incident.

The roof of the building partially collapsed due to the intensity of the fire, while the walls were badly blackened by thick smoke.

Inside the complex, important court materials such as case files, record books, computers, and other office equipment were completely destroyed. Wooden benches and furniture also burned into ashes, with scattered remains seen across the premises.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service fought the fire for about eight hours before they managed to bring it under control. Police officers, firefighters, and court staff later worked together to salvage whatever they could from the burnt building.

When journalists visited the scene on Sunday morning, fire officers were still damping down small remaining flames.

The incident has created anxiety among litigants, especially those with ongoing cases or cases near judgment, as many rushed to the court premises to find out what would happen to their files.

A security officer on duty, Salam Baba Mamudu, said the fire started around 1:00 a.m. while he was inside the building.

He explained that he first heard unusual sounds from the ceiling before parts of it began to fall.

“Smoke quickly filled the building… I couldn’t find my way out,” he said, adding that some nearby residents helped him escape safely.

ACFOI Cecil Addo also said efforts to control the fire were affected by serious water shortages.

He explained that fire tenders ran out of water, and hydrants in Sunyani were not working when they tried to use them. Attempts to get water from Ghana Water Limited also failed.

Firefighters eventually had to rely on water from a private source at Bakoniaba to continue the operation.

According to him, the delay allowed the fire to flare up again at some point before it was finally brought under control.

Authorities are expected to assess the full extent of the damage and decide how ongoing court cases will continue after the destruction of the complex.