A devastating fire has swept through a cluster of fitting shops at Mempeasem, a community in Asawase, Kumasi, destroying more than 100 motorcycles, 10 vehicles, and at least 15 container shops.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, around 2:00 a.m., leaving a trail of destruction and forcing victims to count their losses. Properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis had been reduced to ashes before firefighters could bring the blaze under control.
Eyewitnesses say they are unable to confirm the exact cause of the fire but suspect it may be linked to the persistent power outages in the area, which they believe could have triggered an electrical fault.
According to residents, the fire affected a wide range of businesses, including a laundry service employing about 30 workers, 100 artisans, and shop owners who depend on the area for their livelihoods.
The victims are appealing to the government and the general public for urgent assistance to help them recover.
One of the affected artisans, Masa Kojo, described the incident as a major setback, noting that many of them are struggling to explain the losses to their customers.
“This place has never experienced a fire outbreak since we started working here. As for what caused it, only experts can determine that. By the time the fire service arrived, the damage had already been done,” he said.
Workers at the laundry facility, which was destroyed, also expressed distress over the loss of customers’ belongings.
“We had many customers’ items here, and everything has been burnt. We couldn’t salvage a single item. Now the burden is on us, and we don’t know what to do,” they lamented.
Meanwhile, residents are calling on the Ghana National Fire Service to intensify fire safety education in the area while urging authorities to investigate the cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.
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