In the early hours of Monday, August 4, 2025, a fire ripped through the Accra Tourist Information Centre, one of the capital’s most culturally significant venues. The blaze, which broke out around 1:02 a.m., gutted parts of the building and destroyed the popular food joint Rockz Waakye, owned by hiplife legend Reggie Rockstone and his wife.

Although no casualties were reported, the incident has raised important questions about fire safety protocols and operational accountability within public venues, particularly food businesses operating in such high-traffic spaces.

 The Incident.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the fire was first noticed in the kitchen area of Rockz Waakye. Multiple fire tenders and a Rapid Intervention Vehicle responded swiftly, containing the fire by 3:32 a.m. and completing mop-up operations by 6:35 a.m.

Eyewitnesses and initial reports suggest the fire might have originated from an electrical fault or a possible kitchen mishap, although investigations are still ongoing.

🥘 Rockz Waakye Under the Microscope.

Rockz Waakye has been a significant culinary attraction in Accra’s urban food scene. With its roots deeply tied to Ghanaian culture and street food excellence, it has become a magnet for both locals and tourists. Its presence at the Tourist Information Centre added a flavour of authenticity to Ghana’s cultural promotion efforts.

But the very fame of Rockz Waakye now invites scrutiny. With the fire traced back to its kitchen, critical questions arise:

• Were fire prevention systems (extinguishers, alarms) in place and operational?
• Did staff have adequate fire safety training?
• Were periodic inspections conducted by city authorities or GNFS?
• And more broadly, how are food businesses vetted before being allowed to operate within national or public facilities?

A Broader Safety Concern

This is not an isolated incident. Ghana has witnessed a troubling rise in urban fire outbreaks in recent years, from the Kantamanto Market infernos, Adum Kumasi outbreak, to residential and commercial blazes linked to poor wiring, gas leaks, and structural negligence.

What’s alarming is the apparent normalisation of such tragedies. Post-disaster empathy often replaces pre-emptive action, and investigations fade from public memory without meaningful reform.

In this case, Rockz Waakye’s popularity and branding might have overshadowed safety diligence. If a beloved national icon like Reggie Rockstone’s business can be caught off guard, what does that mean for lesser-known operators?

Accountability in Public Spaces.

The Tourist Information Centre is a government-owned space a symbolic and functional gateway for visitors seeking to understand Ghana’s cultural identity. That such a space could suffer this level of damage raises questions about the oversight roles of the Ghana Tourism Authority, AMA, and GNFS.

Were routine fire drills conducted? Did the venue meet minimum infrastructure standards? Were food businesses like Rockz Waakye required to submit operational safety plans?

If not, then this fire is not just an unfortunate accident. It’s a governance failure.

What Next?

Reggie Rockstone has assured the public that “we will bounce back.” His resilience is admirable. But bouncing back should not mean returning to business as usual. It should mean accountability, reform, and a full audit of food businesses operating in public cultural centres.

This fire should serve as a turning point for how Ghana treats safety, especially in spaces that fuse tourism, food, and national branding.

Final Thoughts

Ghana cannot continue to celebrate its cultural and culinary heroes while ignoring the basics of safety and compliance. Rockz Waakye’s loss is painful, but if properly investigated and addressed, it could also be the catalyst for systemic change in how food operations in public spaces are regulated.

The fire at the Accra Information Centre should ignite more than just flames; it should spark reform.

Justice has finally been served in the tragic case of Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, the 19-year-old pharmacy student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) who was murdered in cold blood in September 2024.

On Friday, the Tamale High Court sentenced 21-year-old Salifu Nurudeen, also known as Nko-nya, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of the premeditated murder of Zakiu. The sentencing brings closure to a case that shocked the UDS campus and the entire nation.

The Backstory

At the time of the incident, rumours spread quickly that Zakiu had been killed on the orders of his ex-girlfriend. However, detailed investigations and court proceedings have since debunked those claims.

Court documents and testimonies revealed that the motive for the murder stemmed from a failed relationship and jealousy. Nurudeen, it emerged, was previously dating the same girl who later became romantically involved with Zakiu. Enraged by this development, Nurudeen plotted revenge.

A Sinister Plot Unfolds

According to the prosecution, Nurudeen went to disturbing lengths to execute his plan. He created a fake Snapchat account impersonating a female acquaintance and began chatting with Zakiu, luring him under the guise of a friendly meetup.

The trap was set for September 25, 2024. Zakiu, unaware of the danger, agreed to meet the ‘Snapchat friend’ near the UDS campus — at an uncompleted building between Citadel and Kumbung Hostels. That night, he was brutally stabbed to death.

The Breakthrough

Investigators were able to track Nurudeen through Zakiu’s missing phone, which he had taken after the murder. When police found him hiding in Nyankpala, the victim’s phone was recovered in his possession.

Nurudeen confessed to using Zakiu’s SIM card after the murder to send misleading messages. He impersonated Zakiu in texts to his girlfriend and close friends, attempting to frame her by suggesting she was involved in a breakup that turned deadly.

However, his digital trail and contradictory statements unraveled the truth — exposing his elaborate attempt to mislead authorities.

The Verdict

Despite pleading not guilty and blaming others, including the girl, throughout the trial, the court found Nurudeen’s actions to be calculated and malicious. Prosecutors stated that if Nurudeen had admitted guilt early on and cooperated with investigators, the charge may have been reduced to manslaughter. His repeated efforts to shift blame ultimately contributed to his life sentence.

The girl at the center of the rumors has been cleared of any wrongdoing, as the investigation found no evidence linking her to the crime.

A Campus in Mourning

Zakiu Wunpini was preparing to enter his third year of pharmacy studies at UDS before his life was cut short. His death sent shockwaves across campus, where he was known as a promising and hardworking student.

With the court’s ruling, Zakiu’s family and the UDS community may finally begin the long process of healing.

Photo caption: The late Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, whose life and dreams were tragically cut short.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged Paul Adom-Otchere, former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), alongside two other individuals, in connection with a contentious revenue assurance contract.

Despite being granted bail, Mr. Adom-Otchere remains in custody after failing to meet the bail requirement of providing two landed properties registered in his name. He reportedly informed investigators that he does not own any such properties in Ghana, making compliance with the condition unattainable.

Also charged are Otchere Kwame Baffour Awuah, Group Executive for Commercial Services at GACL, and Albert Adjetey Adjei-Laryea, Chief Executive Officer of Devnest Systems.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into a revenue assurance contract awarded to a private firm allegedly linked to the owner of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML). The OSP is examining suspected procurement violations, including the alleged sole-sourcing of a company that did not receive board approval from GACL.

Mr. Adom-Otchere was summoned for questioning on Thursday, July 31, following a formal notice issued on July 25, 2025.

In an interview with Citi Newsroom prior to his appearance before the OSP, Adom-Otchere described the investigation as politically driven. “I describe this as a witch-hunt,” he stated, asserting that he played no part in executing the contract. “The contract in question was signed by the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company, and I was not even aware it had been executed.”

He further questioned why the investigation is focused on him instead of the GACL management officials who handled the contract process.

The OSP is expected to release additional information on the case and outline the next steps in the legal process in the coming days.