A massive fire outbreak has left traders at the Kasoa New Market in a state of despair after a relentless inferno tore through the commercial hub on the afternoon of Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The blaze, which began around 4:00 PM, decimated over 100 mini-stores, leaving many of the municipality’s small-scale entrepreneurs with nothing but charred ruins.
The scale of the disaster necessitated a rare cross-regional mobilisation of emergency services.
While the fire began in the Central Region, the intensity of the flames forced the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to call for massive reinforcement from the capital.
A total of eight fire tenders were eventually deployed to the scene:
- Two from the Central Region command.
- Six high-capacity engines from the Greater Accra Region.
Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, noted that the service was alerted via a distress call at 4:50 PM.
Despite the rapid response, the high concentration of combustible goods—ranging from edible oils and food staples to dry hardware—allowed the fire to spread with alarming speed.
“The affected shops deal with various goods and investigations will be conducted to determine the cause of the fire,” ACFO II Nisawu stated, confirming that fire investigators are already on the ground to pinpoint the source of the spark.
The tragedy has reignited a fierce debate over market safety and structural integrity.
Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, arrived at the scene to find firefighting efforts significantly hampered by the lack of clear access paths.
Reports from the ground indicate that fire engines struggled to manoeuvre through the maze of unauthorised structures and containers that have taken over the market’s designated streets. The MP has since vowed to implement a “clean-up” of the market’s layout to prevent a repeat of this catastrophe.
While the financial loss is expected to run into millions of Ghana Cedis, Nash Nyande, the Municipal Director for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), confirmed that there were no recorded casualties.
He praised the local youth who joined hands with the fire service, forming human chains to help salvage items and guide hoses.
“Our team will assess the damage and provide support to those affected,” Nyande assured, noting that his office is currently registering displaced traders to coordinate relief efforts.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com