The Ghana Police Service has arrested several individuals looting shops during a fire outbreak at Kumasi Central Market.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire began around 5:00 a.m. at the popular Blue Light Arena, near Hello FM, before rapidly spreading to adjacent shops.
Videos from the scene show buildings being engulfed in fire as thick black smoke filled the air.
The scenes were really disheartening as traders also desperately tried to salvage their wares from their shops.
Some unscrupulous people attempted to take advantage of the chaos as they chose to break into shops unaffected to loot them.
However, swift intervention by police and military personnel prevented further theft, allowing firefighters to focus on extinguishing the blaze and securing the area.
The presence of security forces was crucial in maintaining order and minimising additional losses for businesses already affected by the fire.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was alerted at 6:05 a.m., with the first response team arriving at 6:15 a.m.
Additional fire engines from KNUST, Ejisu, and Twedie were deployed to help control the flames.
Senior officials, including the regional fire commander, his deputy, operations officers, and district commanders, are currently on-site overseeing firefighting and security operations.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to enable emergency responders to work efficiently and facilitate a thorough investigation.
Officials are expected to assess the extent of the damage and determine the cause of the fire in the coming days.
Watch video:
Ghana Police officers have arrested several individuals attempting to loot shops during the ongoing fire incident in the Adum market , and are working to restore order and prevent further destruction. pic.twitter.com/igZnmef84p
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) March 21, 2025
