Kumasi Central Market fire destroys shops amid regional power outages

A fire at the Kumasi Central Market in the Ashanti Region has destroyed approximately 15 shops. Preliminary eyewitness accounts suggest the blaze may have been triggered by a power-restoration fault, occurring shortly after electricity returned following a brief outage. The Ghana National Fire Service contained the blaze, though congestion and obstructions from traders attempting to salvage goods complicated containment efforts.

In response, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has pledged government support for the affected traders. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) will conduct an assessment to determine the extent of the losses and guide relief efforts. The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) plans to allow traders to temporarily restore their spaces before the Christmas season, provided structural integrity tests are passed.

Separately, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) attributed recent power outages in the Ashanti Region to a technical fault at the Anwomaso Bulk Supply Point. Engineers have been deployed to rectify the issue and restore full supply to the affected areas.