At least six stores, primarily stocked with watermelons and other perishable goods, were destroyed by a fire at the Bantama Racecourse Market in Kumasi on Monday night, December 16.
The blaze, which caused extensive damage, left traders counting losses estimated to be in the thousands of Ghana cedis. The incident has plunged many affected vendors into despair as they call for urgent support and enhanced safety measures to prevent future fires.
One of the affected traders, Akua Kobo, shared her frustration with Citi News, recounting how the fire had consumed all her goods by the time she arrived at the scene in a desperate attempt to salvage what remained.
“We got a call yesterday [December 16] that this place was up in flames. We thought it was the other side because they sell food there. Another piece of information reached us that it is our place, but it is watermelon we sell.
“Our next three shops sell apples. They have a cold room where they keep their apples. There is also a cold store behind us. The Ghana National Fire Service had almost extinguished the fire when we arrived. All our goods are burnt.
“I had GH¢15,000 worth of goods in there. I also had some personal belongings there. We are pleading with the public to assist us with any form of support they can.”
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