Fire razes China City Mall in Kumasi
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
A massive fire has gutted the newly opened China City Mall at Santasi in Kumasi, reducing the multi-storey commercial facility to ashes and destroying goods worth thousands of cedis.
The blaze, which started in the early hours of Thursday, October 30, swept through the entire complex, sending thick clouds of smoke across the city skyline and leaving traders and onlookers in shock.
Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) say investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary information indicates that the flames may have originated from the rear section of the building before spreading rapidly through adjoining shops.
“We received a distress call and immediately dispatched two fire tenders to the scene. Our men worked tirelessly to contain the fire, but the intensity and scale made it difficult to bring under control quickly,” a GNFS officer told the media.
Despite the firefighters’ swift response, the inferno consumed the entire mall, which housed several retail outlets dealing in home accessories, electronics, and groceries. Witnesses said the speed at which the flames spread left little time for shop owners to retrieve their merchandise.
“It was terrifying. Within minutes, the whole place was burning. Everyone was just trying to escape,” recounted one distraught shop attendant.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were also present to assist in the aftermath, helping affected traders and securing the site. NADMO confirmed that no casualties or injuries were recorded as of press time, though losses to property were extensive.
The China City Mall, opened in 2025, had quickly grown into one of Kumasi’s busiest shopping destinations, attracting hundreds of shoppers daily from across the Ashanti Region. Its destruction represents a significant blow to local commerce in the area.
Authorities have cordoned off the premises as GNFS investigators work to identify the exact cause and assess the extent of the damage. Fire officers have reiterated calls for enhanced safety standards, routine electrical inspections, and adherence to fire codes in commercial facilities.
This latest blaze adds to a rising number of market and business property fires in major Ghanaian cities in recent months, reviving public concern over the state of fire safety compliance and the adequacy of emergency response systems in high-traffic trading centres.
