A major fire incident rocked the Gomoa East District of Ghana’s Central Region in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded at Potsin Junction — one of the busiest transit points on the Kasoa–Winneba highway. The blast destroyed multiple structures, displaced families, injured emergency responders, and brought traffic on a key national corridor to a standstill for hours.
What Happened
The explosion occurred around 5:50 a.m. when a Staroil fuel tanker carrying approximately 54,000 litres of petrol veered off the road and fell near a chop bar where there was an open flame, triggering a massive fire that destroyed several structures in the area.
The tanker was reportedly travelling from Accra toward the Central Region when it hit a section of road under construction, lost control, and overturned — leading to the explosion. The driver is said to have escaped before the blast. No deaths were recorded.
A worker at the nearby eatery described a harrowing escape. She and her colleagues had woken up at around 3 a.m. to prepare meals for the day when the tanker fell and began to roll over — and they fled moments before the explosion.
The situation was complicated further when firefighters attempting to douse the flames triggered a second explosion. A member of the Gomoa Potsin Rapid Response Team recounted that responders spotted a small fire on the tanker and tried to pour water inside, only for it to explode again — injuring two fire service officers who fell from their fire tender during the blast.
The Damage
Eleven people were internally displaced, along with approximately 60 dependents, after their homes were either completely or partially destroyed. Six first responders — four fire officers and two NADMO personnel — sustained injuries during efforts to contain the fire, and are currently receiving treatment at Potsin Polyclinic and the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital.
The fire spread rapidly to nearby structures, including a popular local eatery known as Ebo Chop Bar, as residents scrambled to safety.
The Road Crisis
Hundreds of passengers were stranded on the Kasoa–Winneba highway for hours, with travellers from Accra to Winneba and beyond unable to move. The accident occurred on a section of road currently under construction, and residents noted that the ongoing road works significantly worsened the situation.
Traffic was eventually managed by the MTTD Central and Eastern Command, led by Superintendent Hannah Adjei, who provided alternative routes to ease congestion. NADMO has since confirmed that traffic flow in the area has been fully restored.
Emergency Response and Calls for Action
The operation to contain the blaze was led by Central Regional Ghana National Fire Service Commander ACFO Mary Attigah Mensah and Regional NADMO Director CDCO Emmanuel Kwesi Dawood Mensah, with personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO, and the National Petroleum Authority all deployed to the scene.
Adom FM’s correspondent on the ground reported that the intensity of the fire initially made it impossible to approach the scene, while fire tenders at nearby stations were reported to be out of service — a revelation that drew immediate public criticism.
Nana Yaw Anim, a resident of Potsin who assisted in fighting the fire, used the opportunity to appeal for the establishment of a local fire station to support the Ghana National Fire Service in the area.
Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing.
