A fierce fire broke out on Thursday at the popular China City Mall located around Santasi roundabout area in Kumasi.
The blaze, said to have started around 3pm has caused major damage to property and goods worth millions of cedis.
The facility opened less than 6 months ago has been completely razed by the fire.
Eyewitnesses say the fire begun from one of the external shops and spread rapidly through the mall, which houses numerous businesses primarily dealing in imported Chinese goods, including electronics, clothing, and household items.
Fire fighters from different stations quickly moved to the scene to battle the inferno for hours before bringing it under control.
Their efforts were reportedly hampered by the intensity of the fire.
“The combustible materials made the fire spread very fast. We’ve been able to bring it under control, but our men are on ground to prevent the unforeseen. Fortunately, at the time of the incident, most of the workers were on break so no casualty was recorded. The building has developed serious cracks and needs to be pulled down,” ACFO Peter Tetteh, Ashanti Regional Fire Commander disclosed to the media.
While no casualties have been reported, the economic impact is expected to be severe.
Many stood helplessly behind police cordons, watching as years of investment turned to ashes.
The China City Mall has become one of the major commercial hubs in Kumasi since its establishment, known for its diverse range of affordable products.
The police have cordoned off the area as fire officials begin the investigation to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
