17 hours Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/early-morning-fire-ravages-tailors-section-of-kumasis-kejetia-market/A section of Kumasi’s Kejetia Market, housing tailors and accessories vendors, was gutted by fire in the early hours of Saturday, marking the fourth blaze at the commercial hub in four months.
The Ghana National Fire Service swiftly contained the flames after receiving an alert from its patrol team, preventing damage to locked shops but leaving open stalls on the second floor charred.While investigators have yet to confirm the cause, preliminary accounts from traders suggest the fire may have been sparked by an electric iron left plugged in during a power outage. Nana Kwasi Prempeh, President of the market’s Petty Traders Federation, told Asaase News that a blackout Friday night likely led to the incident.
“One tailor reportedly left an iron on, and when electricity was restored, it may have overheated,” he said, emphasizing that this remains speculative until official findings are released.The recurrence of fires—now averaging one per month since February—has heightened anxiety among vendors. “We are all apprehensive.
It’s becoming too frequent and scary,” Prempeh added. Market management has called an emergency meeting with traders’ associations to reinforce safety protocols, including stricter electrical compliance and fire prevention training.No injuries were reported, but the latest blaze has reignited concerns over infrastructure vulnerabilities in Ghana’s largest open-air market, which hosts thousands of small businesses.
Previous fires this year were attributed to faulty wiring and unattended cooking appliances, prompting calls for upgraded fire hydrants and 24-hour surveillance.The Kejetia Market, a vital economic hub in the Ashanti Region, has faced repeated safety challenges despite a major redevelopment in 2019. Traders now urge authorities to accelerate audits of electrical systems and enforce penalties for safety violations.
As cleanup efforts begin, the incident underscores the precarious balance between preserving bustling informal trade and ensuring modern safeguards in Ghana’s rapidly urbanizing centers. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.
gh/early-morning-fire-ravages-tailors-section-of-kumasis-kejetia-market/.
