NPP Ashanti Caucus in Parliament calls for investigation into recurring market fire outbreaks

The Ashanti Caucus in Parliament has called for an investigation into the recurring market fire outbreaks in the Region.

In a statement on March 21 signed by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, following the recent devastating fire which razed a building adjacent to the Old Central Market in Kumasi, the Caucus expressed deep sorrow over the incident and empathized with affected traders and business owners.

“We call on the Minister for the Interior to take immediate steps to investigate these recurring fires in the region and implement comprehensive measures to prevent further occurrences.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all affected individuals and families who have suffered immense losses due to this unfortunate incident,” the statement said.

The caucus urged government to make it a priority to adequately equip the GNFS with the necessary resources to respond effectively to such emergencies.

According, to the NPP Ashanti caucus, this latest fire outbreak is part of a troubling pattern of increasing fire incidents in the Ashanti Region, which continue to wreak havoc on businesses and local economies.

They further mentioned a number of incidents which have occurred in the first few months of 2025.

“In February, a devastating fire swept through Suame Magazine, destroying about 25 spare parts shops and 34 vehicles, leading to massive financial losses for businesses owners and artisans.

“The Kwadaso Wood Market has been hit twice by fire outbreaks within a month, with the most recent incident in January reducing dozens of shops and warehouses to ashes, leaving traders in despair.

“In March, a raging fire at the Konongo Mining Stores wiped out numerous businesses, compounding the woes of traders and residents in the area.

“Most recently, on March 21, 2025, a massive fire engulfed parts of Adum, one of the busiest commercial centers in Kumasi, destroying shops, businesses, and valuable merchandise,” the statement added.

They believe these recurring fires are “becoming one too many and it is alarming that there seems to be no concrete effort to address the situation.”

The caucus stressed on the significant challenges that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is faced with in combating such large-scale fires due to what they say is “lack of modern firefighting equipment, inadequate water supply infrastructure, and insufficient personnel.”

The caucus said Ashanti Region cannot afford to suffer from these disasters without a decisive response from the authorities.

“We demand urgent action to protect lives, livelihoods, and investments in the region,” they noted.

They called for swift government intervention to address these persistent fire outbreaks.

 Source: 3news.com