Over 100 shops destroyed in Suame Post Office market fire

A devastating fire has destroyed more than 100 shops at the Suame Post Office market in the Ashanti Region, leaving traders counting their losses.

The blaze, which broke out around midnight, swept through the market and reduced shops, sheds and goods worth millions of cedis to ashes.

Eyewitnesses reported that gas cylinders stored within the market exploded during the incident, fuelling the rapid spread of the flames.

“We called for help earlier, but the fire service came late. By then, everything was gone,” one distraught eyewitness told the media.

Although some residents rushed to the scene to salvage items by breaking into shops, much of the property could not be saved.

Traders stood helpless as the fire consumed their livelihoods.

Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) say the exact cause of the inferno is yet to be determined.

However, preliminary assessments show the extent of destruction is significant.

According to the GNFS Public Relations Officer in the Ashanti Region, DO II Peter Addai, twenty-five of the forty-four shops at the market were destroyed, while 192 sheds were completely razed.

He added that investigations have begun to ascertain the cause and to prevent a recurrence.

Despite the extensive losses, no casualties have been reported so far.

Traders are, however, calling for stronger fire safety measures and faster response times from emergency services to reduce the impact of such disasters in future.