Fire guts historic train in Ibrahim Mahama’s heritage collection at Tamale
19th February 2026
Fire has destroyed one of the heritage trains owned by renowned Ghanaian creative artist and author Ibrahim Mahama, dealing a significant blow to his ongoing efforts to preserve the country’s railway history.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Mahama’s Red Clay Studio in Tamale, where the historic train was being kept as part of a curated collection of decommissioned railway stock.
Confirming the incident in a Facebook post on Thursday, February 19, Mahama explained that the fire broke out during repair works on the train. According to him, sparks generated in the course of the maintenance ignited the blaze.
“Yesterday [February 18], we had a tragic misfortune of losing one of our trains to fire due to sparks from ongoing repairs. Certainly, I am sure if a lot more care had been taken, this could have been prevented,” he wrote.
Mahama described the loss as particularly painful, noting that the destroyed train was among the most difficult pieces in his collection to acquire.
He revealed that it took nearly two years to secure the train, which had suffered extensive rust damage after decades of neglect.
Because of its poor condition, the train had been scheduled as the last to undergo body repairs.
The destroyed carriage formed part of a broader collection of colonial-era and post-independence railway stock—some dating back more than a century—which Mahama acquired from the Ghana Railway Company.
The aim, he has said, is to preserve these trains as historical artefacts and reimagine them within contemporary cultural and artistic contexts.
The Red Clay Studio, founded by Mahama in Tamale, has grown into a major cultural hub in northern Ghana. Beyond the heritage trains, the site also houses repurposed Soviet-era aircraft and other large-scale installations that explore themes of labour, decay, memory, and post-colonial history.
Despite the scale of the damage, Mahama confirmed that no injuries were recorded.
“No one was injured, thankfully. Our hearts may be broken, but our spirits are as high as ever,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to the Ghana National Fire Service for responding swiftly to the incident, as well as to members of the local community who offered support during and after the fire.
In closing, Mahama used the incident to issue a broader public safety reminder, especially as the country navigates the dry season.
He urged individuals and organisations undertaking mechanical or welding work to exercise heightened caution to prevent avoidable fires, stressing that cultural heritage—once lost—cannot be replaced.
The cause of the fire is not expected to be investigated further, as it has been attributed to accidental sparks during repair works.