A/R: Hundreds displaced as fire ravages Baba Ayoyo slum

Hundreds have been displaced after a devastating fire tore through Baba Ayoyo, a densely populated slum in Ahodwo within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly in the Ashanti Region.

The blaze, which began around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, destroyed over 100 makeshift structures and left victims with virtually nothing.

Many survivors spent the night in nearby churches, open verandas, and temporary shelters as emergency agencies began preliminary assessments.

When reporters visited the scene on Thursday, July 10, the destruction was overwhelming — school children were seen roaming without uniforms, while parents, particularly mothers, expressed despair over lost homes and uncertain futures.

While the official cause of the fire remains unknown, some community members suspect foul play.

According to a unit committee member, a man previously warned by police for threatening a woman in the area was seen near her wooden structure shortly before the fire broke out. The woman’s unit was one of the first to be engulfed.

Assembly Member for Ridge Nhyiaeso, Abraham Boadi, said the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and National Security are scheduled to visit the site on Friday, July 11, to assess the damage and determine next steps.

Residents are now calling on government agencies, NGOs, and charitable individuals to provide urgent relief — food, clothing, and shelter — as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.

The Kumasi Mayor is expected to be part of the NADMO-led delegation visiting the area to coordinate ongoing emergency efforts.