The Ashanti Regional Fire Command has recorded 208 fire outbreaks between January and February this year, slightly lower than the 237 incidents reported during the same period in 2025
Speaking to journalists at the launch of an inter-market quiz on fire safety in Kumasi on Tuesday, March 3, Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ACFO1 Peter Tetteh, explained that this period is typically the peak season for fire incidents.
He noted that while the current statistics show a slight decline compared to last year, the risk of market fires remains significant.
The inter-market quiz was launched to equip traders with practical knowledge on fire prevention and emergency response, promoting awareness and reducing the recurrence of market fires in the region.
“Market fires cause a lot of devastation. The aim is to get traders involved in fire prevention so that they can own the market, understand what causes fires, and prevent them,” ACFO1 Tetteh said, adding that participants had responded positively to the initiative.
On the sale of combustible and explosive materials, he warned that traders selling such items should relocate outside market premises to protect the general public, citing the high risk these materials pose in the event of a fire.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Kejetia Market, Chairman Ernest Afayam, welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of educating traders on fire safety given the market’s layout and past fire incidents.
Chairman Afayam recalled a recent fire outbreak, quickly contained by fire officers, as well as a 2023 incident where the sale of hazardous chemicals sparked a fire that displaced market women and caused economic losses.
He praised the quiz as a proactive step in safeguarding traders and reducing future fire hazards.
“It is a positive programme. The arrangement is a form of creating awareness and prevention as far as fire safety is concerned. I believe it is something worth embarking on.”
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