A massive fire outbreak has torn through Anwona Market in Kumasi, wiping out hundreds of shops and plunging scores of traders into distress.
The fire erupted late Monday night near Afful Nkwanta and spread swiftly across the market, overwhelming traders who had already closed for the day.
By the time firefighters gained access to the area, large portions of the market had been destroyed, with early estimates putting the number of affected shops at about 300.
The incident comes on the heels of another major blaze at Sofoline less than 24 hours earlier, intensifying fears over the increasing frequency of fire outbreaks in the Ashanti regional capital.
Initial accounts indicate the fire may have originated from the footwear manufacturing section of the market, where combustible materials are widely used.
However, some traders are raising suspicions of deliberate sabotage, citing unresolved tensions surrounding proposed redevelopment plans for the market.
As investigations by the Ghana National Fire Service continue, affected traders remain at the scene assessing their losses, many of them uncertain about how to recover from the destruction of their livelihoods.
