The devastating fire that ravaged the Adum central business district of Kumasi, Ghana, on March 21, 2025, has prompted a critical reassessment of market planning in the country. President John Dramani Mahama, upon visiting the scene of the disaster, expressed profound sadness at the extent of the damage, which consumed three multi-story buildings housing numerous stores, hundreds of container shops, stalls, and table-top businesses, resulting in millions of Ghana cedis worth of merchandise lost. While no fatalities were recorded, two individuals, including a firefighter, sustained injuries. The incident has underscored the urgent need to rethink market design to prevent future tragedies.
The fire, which ignited in the early morning hours between Hello FM and the Kumasi Central Market, spread rapidly through the densely packed commercial area. This area, characterized by a lack of adequate access roads, posed a significant challenge to firefighters. Their efforts to contain the blaze were severely hampered by the inability of fire tenders to reach the heart of the inferno promptly. This critical infrastructural deficiency contributed significantly to the scale of the destruction.
President Mahama commended the Ghana National Fire Service for their swift response, acknowledging that their valiant efforts, despite the challenging circumstances, prevented the fire from engulfing an even wider area. He emphasized that the information he received from the firefighters confirmed the lack of access as a major contributing factor to the fire’s devastating impact. This incident highlights the crucial role of accessible infrastructure in emergency response and disaster management.
The lack of access roads in the affected area underscores a systemic issue in urban planning, particularly within bustling market environments. The dense concentration of commercial structures, coupled with inadequate access routes, creates a highly vulnerable environment ripe for rapid fire spread. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for urban planners and policymakers to prioritize fire safety considerations in market design and development.
The president extended his heartfelt sympathies to the affected traders who lost their livelihoods in the fire. He directed the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Regional Coordinating Council, and other relevant relief agencies to provide immediate support to the displaced traders. This support will be crucial in helping them cope with the immediate aftermath of the disaster and begin the arduous process of rebuilding their businesses.
Beyond immediate relief efforts, the president emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of market planning and development practices across the country. This review should focus on incorporating adequate fire safety measures, including the provision of accessible roads, fire hydrants, and other essential infrastructure. The goal is to create safer and more resilient market environments that minimize the risk of such devastating fires in the future. The Kumasi market fire serves as a tragic lesson that necessitates a fundamental shift in how markets are planned and managed, prioritizing safety and resilience above all else. This will involve a collaborative effort between government agencies, urban planners, and market stakeholders to ensure that future market developments are designed with fire prevention and rapid response capabilities as integral components.
