The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property has announced new directives to enhance fire safety at the Kejetia Market in Kumasi.
Recent fire outbreaks in the market have caused significant losses and raised concerns about preventive measures.
Speaking to Onua News’ Kwame Yeboah in an interview, the Ashanti Regional Public relations officer (PRO) for the Ghana National Fire Service, DO3 Peter Addai, he said, it would be prudent for the authorities at the Kejetia market to segregate goods sold within the market to help avoid fire outbreaks.
His comments come on the back of the latest fire outbreak at the market on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, which destroyed 2 shops and destroyed some goods.
The fire has caused the loss of thousands of Ghana cedis worth of goods, affecting several traders. This latest incident marks the third fire outbreak in the $298 million market commissioned 2019.
A massive blaze on March 15, 2023, destroyed 54 shops, while another on January 24, 2025, reduced two shops to ashes. Three more shops have been affected in the latest disaster.
Meanwhile, the GNFS believes segregating the market to exclude combustible chemicals would help when there are outbreaks.
“We wish the market would be segregated so we could have fish sellers at one place, onion sellers and so forth so we could help in terms of fire. But now everyone is anywhere which is worrying. Now the fire outbreak at a chemical shop spread fast to the fabric shop because they are so close.
“So, we will plead with management of Kejetia to ensure certain chemicals that are combustible such as gunpowder and other things would not be sold inside the market because when such things catch fire, it spreads out within the shortest possible time,” he stated.
Ashanti Regional Minister to meet stakeholders over Kejetia market challenges on February 13
