The Ghanaian creative arts and tourism sectors have suffered a massive blow. A vintage heritage train, painstakingly acquired and preserved by internationally acclaimed artist Ibrahim Mahama, has been completely destroyed by fire.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night at the famous Red Clay Studios in Tamale, Northern Region. The studio has become a major national tourist attraction, known for housing repurposed old trains and airplanes that serve as classrooms and art installations for the local community.
How it Happened
In a heartfelt statement posted on his official Facebook page today, Ibrahim Mahama confirmed the heartbreaking news. He explained that the fire was accidentally triggered by sparks flying from ongoing welding and repair works on the aging metal body of the train.
"Yesterday night we had the tragic misfortune of losing one of our trains to fire due to sparks from ongoing repairs. This was one of the most difficult objects to collect almost two years ago... Our hearts may be broken, but our spirits are as high as ever," Mahama wrote.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were recorded. The artist praised the swift intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service and the local Tamale community, whose efforts prevented the blaze from spreading to the other historic aircraft and trains on the compound.
The destroyed carriage was part of Ghana’s earliest railway stock, serving as a powerful symbol of the nation's industrial past. Despite the massive financial and historical loss, Mahama has vowed to continue his preservation efforts.
