A devastating fire swept through the Kwadaso Wood Market in Kumasi on the evening of January 19, 2025, marking the second such incident in just two weeks.
The blaze, which began around 4:00 PM, destroyed approximately 40 shops, including those of wood sellers, hardware stores, chop bars, and provisions shops.
Sawdust and gas cylinders present in the market fueled the fire, leading to losses estimated in the millions of Ghana cedis.
This incident follows a previous fire on January 4, 2025, which razed over 130 shops in the same market.
Victims of the earlier fire had called for support from the government and philanthropists after losing millions of cedis in the disaster.
The Ghana National Fire Service had battled the earlier blaze for more than five hours to prevent it from spreading to nearby houses.
The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has assured the affected traders of continued support as investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires.
Richard Tutu, the Assembly Member for the Nsiah Asare Electoral Area, described the incidents as a severe blow to the local economy and called for swift intervention to assist those affected.
The recurrence of such devastating fires within a short period has raised concerns among traders and local authorities.
Many are urging for improved safety measures and emergency access to prevent future disasters. As investigations continue, the community hopes for prompt action to address the underlying causes and provide relief to those impacted.
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