The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga has visited the Aboabo Station / Nkoko Adwasuo Market in Kumasi to sympathise with traders who lost items in a fire outbreak on Friday night.
On Saturday, October 10, 2026, he was led to the market by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, and Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO1 Mr. Peter Tetteh.
Also accompanying the Local Government Minister were Mr. Francis Dwira Darko, Metro Coordinating Director, DO1 Mr. Thomas Asiedu, Metro Fire Commander, and other dignitaries.
On Friday, October 9, 2026, at around 7:30 p.m., fire broke out in the market, razing 15 lockable shops stocked with wares and personal effects, leaving the traders counting their losses.
On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, he sympathised with the traders for their loss and stated that an assessment would be conducted to ensure they receive support.
Although the immediate cause of the fire outbreak is not yet known, the Local Government Minister, who was returning from an official tour with the President in the Ahafo Region, advised traders to take fire precautionary measures seriously to avert frequent occurrences.
On the issue of congestion in the market, which impedes fire officers from controlling fires promptly, he assured that with the resumption of work on the Kejetia Redevelopment Project Phase 2, congestion in the market would be minimal when fully operational.
He also advised traders not to use gas cookers and other flammable materials in the market in order to significantly reduce fire outbreaks.
He thanked personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for responding swiftly to the distress call.
Adding their voices in appreciation of the timely response, the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Mayor of Kumasi congratulated the firefighters for their high level of professionalism and sense of duty.
They described their performance as exemplary and timely, noting that without their response, the extent of damage could have been unbearable.
They promised to take data of the victims so that they could solicit support for them.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Commander recounted that at around 7:35 p.m. on Friday, they were informed about the fire in the market.
He said they quickly moved to the market to bring it under control, noting that investigations are ongoing to ascertain its cause.
Madam Abena Asuo, whose shop was also razed by the inferno, told the media she left the market around 6 p.m. on Friday but was called around 8 p.m. that fire had engulfed the market.
She narrated that she rushed back to the market only to find her shop and others on fire.
She thanked the fire officers for bringing the fire under control, stating that without their timely response, the situation would have been devastating.
She also thanked Hon. Ayariga and other government officials for sympathising with them, appealing to them to come forth with support to relieve them of their current predicament.
BY Thomas Awuah Asem
