The Ghana National Fire Service has set up a 3-member committee to investigate the cause of three separate fires at Asafo and Kumasi Central markets.

Chief Fire Officer, Edwin Ekow Blankson, after visiting the two markets, announced that the committee is expected to submit its report by Wednesday, May 1.

Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service visited the burnt portion of the Kumasi Central market to assess the situation.


To their surprise, the affected traders have started reconstructing the structures despite warnings by city authorities.

Chief Fire Officer, Edwin Ekow Blankson said the action can jeopardize investigations.

“I was shocked, i just couldn’t believe it that without the clearance from KMA, they have started reconstructing. Now, everything is cleared; the debris that is going to guide us, the fire pattern, the marks that is left on the wall has been cleared. Some have even painted the place.”

The team also visited the Asafo market where over two hundred shops were razed down on Sunday evening.

The fire officials observed traders had covered hydrants in the markets with their structures, 3news.com’s Ibrahim Abubakar reports.

The team also conferred with the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer on observations within the markets and demanded that all structures covering water hydrants are demolished.

The Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, commended the fire personnel for their swift responses in attending to fire issues.

He pledged to implement recommendations by the committee set up to investigate the cause of the recent fires.

The three-member committee is led by the director of operations at the Ghana National Fire Service, DCFO Kwaku Manu Afful.

They committee will present its report by next week Wednesday, May 1.