Two people have lost their lives after a small aircraft crashed and caught fire near a school park at Tema Community One in the Greater Accra Region on Monday afternoon.

The incident, which occurred at about 4 p.m., happened at the Oninku Drive School Park at Site 17, close to the TMA Daycare Centre. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descending unusually before it crashed and burst into flames.

Personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded swiftly to the emergency, working to contain the fire and secure the area.

According to Divisional Officer II Ebenezer Yenzu, Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, an initial distress call was received just before 1 p.m., reporting a fire outbreak in the area.

“By the time we arrived, we realised it involved a helicopter that had fallen close to the wall of the daycare facility,” he said.

Firefighters, with support from personnel of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, managed to extinguish the blaze and cordon off the scene to prevent further risk to nearby residents.

Authorities confirmed that all teachers and pupils at the daycare centre had been safely evacuated before emergency teams arrived, ensuring no casualties among the children.

“None of the pupils or teachers sustained any injuries, as they had already moved to safety,” Mr Yenzu added.

However, two men on board the aircraft were found dead after the fire was brought under control. Their bodies have since been retrieved and deposited at the morgue by police for preservation and autopsy.

The crash site has been secured as investigations begin into the cause of the accident. Officials say aviation experts will be engaged to assist with the probe.

Mr Yenzu disclosed that the aircraft has been identified with registration number 9G-ADV, although details regarding its origin and the circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear.

Assembly Member for the Kwesi Plange Electoral Area, Ahmed Abdullia, also confirmed that no schoolchildren were harmed in the incident.

Eyewitnesses described moments of panic as the aircraft hovered low before crashing. Some residents rushed to the scene and attempted to control the fire using water from nearby sources before the arrival of emergency services.

One of the first responders, Sadik Abdulai, said their immediate focus was to move children away from danger while preventing the flames from spreading.

Investigations are ongoing.

Two personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have sustained injuries following a secondary explosion during efforts to contain a tanker fire at Potsin Junction in the Central Region.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, along the Kasoa-Winneba Road, where emergency teams had been working to control a blaze involving a fuel tanker.

According to reports, the situation escalated after the fire, which appeared to be under control, suddenly reignited. Moments later, a secondary explosion occurred, raising fresh safety concerns and forcing authorities to cordon off the area.

Eyewitnesses described the explosion as sudden and intense. One survivor recounted that a spark from the tanker triggered a massive fireball within seconds, leaving little time for those nearby to react.

The two injured fire officers were caught in the impact zone while actively working to suppress the flames. Reports indicate that the force of the blast threw one officer off the fire tender, while another, who was positioned on top of the vehicle, fell to the ground during the explosion.

Both officers were rushed to a nearby hospital and are receiving treatment. No fatalities have been officially confirmed as of the time of this report.

The incident has unsettled residents in the Potsin Junction area, with some reported to be in shock following the explosion. Authorities say the tanker has continued to reignite intermittently, complicating firefighting efforts and increasing the risk of further explosions.

A correspondent from Adom News in the Central Region reported that the tanker was still burning at the time of filing, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by emergency responders.

The Ghana National Fire Service has since deployed additional personnel from nearby stations to support containment efforts and ensure the tanker is fully extinguished.

Meanwhile, the full extent of damage to property and the number of people affected by the fire and smoke remain unclear.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the Kasoa-Winneba stretch or proceed with caution, as emergency teams maintain a strong presence at the scene.

The World Bank Group has raised concerns over a potential widening employment gap as an estimated 1.2 billion young people are expected to enter labour markets across developing countries within the next decade.

Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the institution, cautioned that many of these young entrants may lack the skills required by employers, largely due to a growing disconnect between education systems and rapidly evolving labour market demands.

Speaking at the Vice Chancellor’s Occasional Lecture Series at the University of Ghana on Monday, March 16, he described the situation as a pressing global challenge. He noted that the issue extends beyond job availability to concerns about productivity and income levels, particularly for young people already engaged in work but struggling to advance economically.

He further observed that the nature of jobs is changing quickly, with roles expected to evolve significantly over the next decade. According to him, skills that were once adequate are becoming increasingly outdated, underscoring the need for continuous adaptation.

Paschal Donohoe indicated that the World Bank Group is focusing its development agenda on improving education and skills training, promoting job creation, and supporting entrepreneurship. He explained that current efforts aim to strengthen foundational learning, better align higher education with labour market needs, and expand opportunities for young people to access meaningful employment.

He added that equipping individuals with relevant skills and opportunities remains essential to enabling them to reach their full potential in a changing global economy.