Kumasi central market gutted by fire

The Kumasi Central Market in central Ghana was on Sunday morning the scene of sorrow, anguish and pain as scores of traders, mostly women, who had lost valuable items and goods running into several million cedis to a raging fire screamed, sobbed or wept uncontrollably.

Some of the traders, defying the wet and muddy ground caused by a downpour that preceded the fire, lay sprawled on the premises of their shops and stalls as they mourned their losses, drawing a large crowd to the scene.

An elderly woman who could not contain her loss of an unspecified amount of money and goods screamed: "God, I am finished!", as she was led away and consoled by friends and relations.

According to sources, the fire, the cause of which is yet to be determined, started around 1 a.m. and within minutes had torched many stores and shops. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service had a difficult time gaining access to the scene and tracing water hydrants due to congestion at the market and the haphazard manner tables, shops and stalls had been arranged or constructed.

The fire personnel, however, managed to gain access to the blazing fire and battled it all night. Items destroyed included foodstuffs, footwear, cooking utensils, drums of edible oil, clothing and other valuables.