A devastating Islamic SHS Wa fire has displaced 138 female students after a blaze swept through part of the girls’ dormitory at the school on Sunday evening, August 2, 2026.
The fire destroyed six rooms in the dormitory, forcing affected students to return home while school authorities work to restore normalcy. Female students whose rooms were not extensively damaged have been temporarily relocated to classrooms.
Headmaster Alhassan Abudu Bafaara said the fire broke out at about 7:30 p.m. in one of the dormitory rooms before spreading quickly to nearby rooms.
“I dashed back and saw the inferno. It was already high. One hundred and thirty-eight girls in six rooms were affected. Almost everything was gone,” he said.
Although no injuries or fatalities were reported, the fire destroyed students’ personal belongings, including mattresses, textbooks, school uniforms, clothing, food items, and other valuables.
Following the incident, school management asked the affected students to return to their homes while temporary arrangements are made.
To ease the situation, classrooms have been converted into temporary accommodation for female students whose rooms remain habitable but were affected by the incident.
The school says efforts are underway to restore normal academic and residential activities as quickly as possible.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service responded promptly after receiving the distress call and managed to contain the blaze before it spread to other sections of the dormitory.
The Wa Municipal Fire Officer, DO3 Iddrisu Imuran, confirmed that investigations have begun to determine the cause of the fire. He also urged school authorities and students to strictly observe fire safety measures to help prevent future incidents.
Meanwhile, Wa Municipal Chief Executive Alhaji Nura Issah Danwana, accompanied by officials from NADMO, visited the affected students and assured them of the Assembly’s support.
He said the Assembly’s immediate priority is to convert additional classrooms into temporary dormitories to accommodate the displaced students.
The latest Islamic SHS Wa fire has renewed concerns over the safety of the girls’ dormitory, which has now experienced three separate fire outbreaks in just over six years.
The first incident occurred on January 17, 2020, followed by another on February 21, 2020. Sunday’s blaze, which occurred on August 2, 2026, marks the third fire to affect the same dormitory facility.
The recurring incidents have prompted renewed calls for a thorough investigation into the repeated fires and stronger investment in fire prevention measures and safety infrastructure at the school.
By : Rachael Djabakie