Fire guts over 100 motorcycles, 10 cars, and 15 shops at Mempeasem

A devastating fire has swept through a cluster of fitting shops in Mempeasem, a community in Asawase, Kumasi, resulting in the destruction of over 100 motorcycles, 10 cars, and at least 15 container shops.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com on May 5, 2026, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday around 2:00 am, leaving a significant trail of destruction and forcing victims to assess their losses.

Properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis were reduced to ashes before firefighters could bring the blaze under control.

Eyewitnesses reported that they could not confirm the exact cause of the fire but suspected it may be linked to the persistent power outages in the area, which they believe could have triggered an electrical fault.

Residents noted that the fire impacted a wide range of businesses, including a laundry service that employed about 30 workers, alongside 100 artisans and shop owners who relied on the area for their livelihoods.

The victims are appealing to the government and the general public for urgent assistance to aid in their recovery.

One affected artisan, Masa Kojo, described the incident as a major setback, emphasising the difficulty many are facing in explaining the losses to their customers.

He said, “This place has never experienced a fire outbreak since we started working here. As for what caused it, only experts can determine that. By the time the fire service arrived, the damage had already been done.”

Workers at the destroyed laundry facility expressed distress over the loss of customers’ belongings.

“We had many customers’ items here, and everything has been burnt. We couldn’t salvage a single item. Now the burden is on us, and we don’t know what to do,” they lamented.

Meanwhile, residents are urging the Ghana National Fire Service to enhance fire safety education in the area, while also calling on authorities to investigate the cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

NAD/VPO

I will take Rush Energy brand global with passion - Fatawu Issahaku