An OA Travel and Tours bus heading to Techiman caught fire in the early hours of Monday at Nsawam, in the Eastern Region, leaving passengers shaken but miraculously unharmed. The bus, which had departed from Accra with over 40 passengers, was forced to halt after flames were seen billowing from the rear section. Quick action by the driver and some passengers ensured a safe evacuation, preventing any casualties.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., shortly after the bus passed the Nsawam Police Station. A passenger seated near the back of the bus noticed an unusual smell and alerted the driver, who immediately pulled over. As the driver inspected the situation, smoke began to fill the air, and flames soon followed. The passengers, realizing the urgency, quickly exited the bus, some even assisting others in the process.
"I was asleep when I heard someone shouting 'fire, fire!' I thought it was a nightmare until I saw smoke filling the bus," recounted Sarah Kyeiwaa, a passenger. "Everyone was panicking, but we managed to get out before the fire spread."
Once all passengers were evacuated, the flames intensified, engulfing the entire vehicle within minutes. The driver, visibly shaken but unharmed, revealed that he had conducted a standard check before the trip and had not detected any issues with the vehicle. "I don’t know what went wrong," he said. "I’m just grateful we all made it out safely."
Police and fire service personnel from Nsawam arrived shortly after the blaze was reported, but the bus was already beyond salvage by the time they arrived. Nsawam Fire Service Commander, Divisional Officer I Emmanuel Owusu, commented that preliminary investigations suggested a possible electrical fault. "The source of the fire is still under investigation, but it appears to have been an electrical malfunction in the rear of the bus," he explained. "We commend the driver for acting quickly and the passengers for their calmness in evacuating."
While no passengers were injured, some lost personal belongings in the fire, including luggage and electronic devices. Passengers were later transferred to another bus, provided by OA Travel and Tours, to continue their journey to Techiman. The transport company has yet to issue an official statement but assured affected passengers that efforts would be made to compensate for lost items.
The incident has renewed calls for increased safety checks and regular maintenance of commercial buses, especially those covering long distances. Many passengers expressed concern about the frequency of such incidents and urged transport companies to prioritize safety.
Local authorities have advised travelers to report any unusual noises or smells immediately to bus operators to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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