Firefighters in the North East Region responded to a fire outbreak at the Gambaga Witches Camp on Sunday, containing a blaze that destroyed five rooms in an unused eight-room structure, authorities said.
The fire, suspected to have started from nearby bush burning, erupted at 2:07pm, according to the North East Regional Fire Service. Crews from the Gambaga Fire Station arrived seven minutes later and brought the fire under control by 4:20pm, fully extinguishing it by 4:30pm.
Personnel from the Gambaga Fire Station managed to salvage three rooms, while five were completely destroyed. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Sources at the scene indicated that the fire had already intensified by the time emergency responders arrived, partly due to a delayed distress call and poor road access to the area. The surrounding bushland, already ablaze, further complicated efforts to control the flames.
A spokesperson for the regional fire service said the crew acted swiftly despite challenges, preventing greater damage to the facility.
The Gambaga Witches Camp is a historic site in the North East Region, established as a shelter to accommodate individuals accused of witchcraft who have been banished from their communities. The camp has approximately 25 round huts and holds about 80 to 100 inmates.
The facility has several unused and preserved structures that occasionally face fire risks from surrounding vegetation, particularly during the dry season when bush fires are common in northern Ghana.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and have yet to conduct a full assessment of the extent of the damage.
The Gambaga Witches Camp was originally established in the 18th century in the township of Gambaga in the North East Region to protect mostly women accused of witchcraft from lynchings and other violent repercussions.
The facility has been the subject of various studies exploring its cultural significance and the lives of its residents, who are predominantly elderly women ostracized by their communities due to witchcraft accusations.
In recent years, management of the camp has appealed for support to rehabilitate the residence and improve living conditions for the vulnerable women and children housed at the facility, particularly as structures deteriorate and overcrowding becomes more pronounced.
