General News
[VIDEO] Fire at Accra Tourist Information Centre: A Wake-Up Call on Rockz Waakye’s Operations?
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 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.
