One person has been injured and a pregnant woman has been left homeless after a fire destroyed four container shops and two rooms at Atasemanso in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
The fire, suspected to have been caused by a gas cylinder explosion, destroyed property and goods worth millions of cedis, including several bales of second-hand clothing.
The incident caused panic among residents and traders as the flames engulfed the structures, forcing people to flee for safety while shop owners watched helplessly as their businesses and investments were destroyed.
Speaking in an interview, a distressed woman said she had nowhere to spend the night after losing her accommodation to the fire.
“We have nowhere to go. We don’t know where to sleep today. Help me,” she pleaded.
The incident has left affected traders facing significant financial losses, while residents who lost their rooms are struggling to find alternative accommodation.
The Assembly Member for Atasemanso, Abdul Samid, confirmed that one woman sustained injuries and was taken to Atasemanso Hospital for treatment.
He said preliminary investigations suggested that a gas cylinder explosion may have triggered the fire.
According to him, the swift response of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby houses.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Command of the GNFS has announced plans to intensify fire safety monitoring at markets and other locations considered vulnerable to fire outbreaks.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Arthur Arhin Mensah, said officers would conduct patrols during the day and at night to strengthen surveillance and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
He also urged the public to cooperate with fire officers as the Service steps up enforcement efforts to prevent further incidents and improve public safety.
