Kumasi Central Market fire wipes out traders’ stock, savings

Traders at the Kumasi Central Market near Aboabo Station in the Ashanti Region are appealing for support after a fire destroyed their stalls and goods on Friday, October 9, 2026, wiping out their stock and working capital.

The affected traders say the losses have wiped out years of savings, leaving them uncertain about how to rebuild their businesses.

They are appealing to the government and benevolent individuals to help them recover from the incident.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ACFO I Peter Tetteh, has identified difficulties accessing the affected shops as a major challenge during the firefighting operation.

He said the presence of traders and onlookers initially made it difficult for firefighters to access the affected area, delaying efforts to contain the blaze.

Mr Tetteh also cited the presence of highly combustible materials, including plastics and other goods stored in the stalls, as a factor that made the fire more difficult to control.

Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the market.