Hundreds of traders at the Suame Post Office Market in Kumasi are counting their losses after a devastating fire ripped through the busy hub late Tuesday night, August 26, 2025.
The blaze, which broke out around 11 p.m., intensified when more than 30 gas cylinders exploded, sending flames surging across the market. Within hours, over 300 shops had been reduced to ashes.
Reports indicate that many victims stood helplessly as the inferno consumed their goods. Some residents, in a desperate attempt to save livelihoods, forced open nearby shops to salvage items before the fire spread.
Frustrated traders have blamed what they described as the slow response of the Ghana National Fire Service. “We called for help earlier, but the fire service came late. By then, everything was gone,” an eyewitness recounted.
Although no casualties have been confirmed, the scale of destruction is expected to run into millions of cedis.
Firefighters were still battling hotspots as of press time, while investigators work to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
