A district court in Kumasi has sentenced a food vendor to 20 days in prison for repeatedly defying orders banning the use of open fire at a local market, in a case authorities say underscores ongoing enforcement challenges.
Kande Seidu, who operates at Alabar Market, was handed the custodial sentence on Monday, March 16, 2026, by District Court Two sitting at Prempeh Assembly Hall.
The presiding judge, Her Worship Deborah Gyawa Donkor ordered the jail term after finding that Seidu had persistently ignored directives from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
Prosecutors told the court that Seidu, together with her sibling Fati Seidu, had repeatedly violated safety regulations despite several warnings and abatement notices issued by the KMA’s Environmental Health Unit.
The two were first hauled before the court on January 15, 2026, for breaching Sections 27 and 29 of the KMA Public Market By-Laws (2020), which prohibit the use of open fire in market spaces due to fire risk and public safety concerns.
During proceedings on February 23, Kande Seidu left the courtroom before her case was called, while her sister remained and pleaded guilty.
Fati Seidu was fined Ghc1,200—equivalent to 100 penalty units—after admitting to the offence.
The court subsequently issued a bench warrant for Kande Seidu’s arrest following her absence. That warrant led to her re-arrest and eventual sentencing.
Authorities say the ruling sends a strong signal to traders who continue to disregard market safety regulations, particularly those related to fire hazards in densely populated commercial areas.
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