Early Morning Fire Consumes 60 Stalls at Kumasi’s Race Course Market

In a devastating incident early Monday morning, traders at the Race Course market in Kumasi are grappling with significant losses following a fierce inferno that swept through the market.

The fire, which destroyed about 60 stalls along with properties and food items worth thousands of cedis, required the intervention of four fire tenders to be fully extinguished.

As fire officers tirelessly work to determine the cause of the blaze, traders are salvaging whatever remnants they can from the charred remains of their businesses.

Clothing, animal proteins, and local spices are among the commodities that have been burnt beyond recognition.

The regional fire office received a distress call from the National office, prompting a swift response to the market. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Henry Giwah, in an interview with journalists, urged traders and households in the region to take precautionary measures, especially with the onset of the harmattan season.

The Race Course market, originally a temporary settlement for traders relocated from the old Kejetia market, has been a focal point for commerce.

However, the traders are now calling for an expedited completion of the stalled New Kejetia Redevelopment Market to avoid such incidents in the future.

This unfortunate incident marks the second fire in two weeks to hit Ghana’s second-largest city, raising concerns about the safety of marketplaces and the need for enhanced preventive measures.