2025 was kickstarted with a disaster in Tafo Mile 4, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as a shop was burnt to the ground.
According to reports, the shop caught fire due to a firework display by some youth in the community during their celebration for crossing over into 2025.
Although it is still unclear how it all happened, it is suspected that a spark from the fireworks must have lighted a fire in an item in the shop, which burst into flames and engulfed the entire shop.
Reports indicate by the time the fire was discovered it was too late to salvage anything from the shop.
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded in the fire.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) the importation, distribution, retailing, and wholesaling of knockouts is a criminal offence and punishable by law.
The service stated that the laws of Ghana prohibit the manufacture, possession, and use of firecrackers (knockouts), display shells, artillery shells, and ball and canister shells.
Anyone who breaks this law is subject to arrest and prosecution, however it is not uncommon to see street hawkers selling fire crackers in the middle of the road and other public spaces without repercussions.
Watch video:
A shop caught fire at Kumasi-Tafo Mile 4, near the Hisense shop, reportedly due to a firework display celebrating the entry into the New Year last night. pic.twitter.com/oxBajDRDmr
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) January 1, 2025