President John Dramani Mahama has arrived at the Adum Market in Kumasi following a devastating fire outbreak that has destroyed several shops and livelihoods.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, March 21, caused widespread damage, leaving traders counting their losses.

During his visit, Mahama expressed his sympathies to the affected traders, describing the situation as unfortunate. He assured the victims that the government would take necessary steps to support them through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Meanwhile, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has also visited the market to assess the extent of the damage. He is currently receiving briefings from national security operatives on the situation.

The fire, which started in the early hours of the morning, quickly spread across sections of the market, consuming shops and properties. Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have been battling the blaze for hours, deploying six fire trucks in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

However, challenges such as congestion and narrow access routes have made firefighting efforts difficult.

Many of the affected shops sold second-hand clothes and housed seamstresses and watch repairers, with some containing highly flammable materials, further complicating efforts to douse the flames.

This tragic incident comes at a time when the GNFS has deployed a specialized task force across the country to tackle the increasing occurrences of market fires.

The initiative includes fire patrol teams monitoring major markets, stationed personnel providing fire coverage from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and safety education programs to enhance preparedness and response.

Chief Fire Officer Julius A. Kuunuor emphasized the importance of vigilance, stating that routine inspections and enforcement of safety regulations will be intensified to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, but investigations are ongoing to establish the extent of damage and potential factors that contributed to the disaster.