A devastating fire has swept through the Suame Post Office market in the Ashanti Region, destroying more than 100 shops and leaving traders counting heavy losses.
The blaze, which broke out around midnight on Tuesday, ripped through sections of the market, consuming properties and goods worth millions of cedis. Eyewitnesses reported that gas cylinders stored within the market exploded, intensifying the flames and accelerating the destruction.
Distraught traders and residents watched helplessly as the fire tore through the stalls. Some residents rushed to the scene and broke into shops in an attempt to salvage items before the fire spread further.
Several traders alleged that firefighters arrived late, by which time much of the market had already been reduced to ashes. “We called for help earlier, but the fire service came late. By then, everything was gone,” one eyewitness recounted.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has launched preliminary investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Providing an update, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, DO II Peter Addai, confirmed that 25 of the market’s 44 shops were destroyed, along with 192 sheds.
The incident has left many traders devastated as they grapple with the loss of their livelihoods.
