President John Mahama has pledged government assistance to traders whose shops were destroyed by fire at the Adum market in Kumasi. On his visit to the site on March 21, the President expressed solidarity with the victims and assured them of support from the government.
Following a briefing by fire officers, Mahama confirmed that he had directed the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to provide immediate assistance to those affected. He also indicated that he would collaborate with the Chief of Staff and the Ashanti Regional Minister to discuss additional support for the traders.
The fire, which broke out early on Friday morning at the ‘Blue Light’ area of Adum, led to the destruction of several shops. Despite warnings from the police and firefighters, some shop owners attempted to salvage their goods from the flames, putting themselves at risk. In one case, a shop owner had to be rescued using a ladder.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but reports suggest that an explosion may have occurred in some of the affected shops, potentially due to combustible materials.
President Mahama also used the opportunity to warn traders against the dangerous use of gas cylinders, urging them to adopt safer practices to prevent future incidents.
