Management Shuts New Kejetia Market After Fire Outbreak
Management of the Kumasi City Markets Limited, known as the new Kejetia market, has closed down the facility following an outbreak of fire in portions of it on Wednesday.
The market will be opened later in the day.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the KCML expressed appreciation to the security agencies for their swift response to the incident.
The Fire
The fire started at late noon in one shop, according to eyewitnesses and spread to other shops destroying goods worth millions of cedis and a number of shops.
Security agencies including the Fire Service, the Ambulance Service and the Police Service responded to the incident.
Also at the scene to help fight the fire were some of the traders and workers from Contracta, developers of the market complex.
It was reported that some traders were trapped inside the raging portions, however, they were all helped out by benevolent individuals.
Some viral videos showed some trapped persons being let down on a rope.
Some traders also tried salvaging their goods from portions where the fire had been doused.
Management of the KCML confirmed that no casualty was recorded.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service succeeded in putting out the fire around 7 pm on Wednesday, March 15.
Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is yet to be established as well as the exact number of shops that got burnt.
Closure Of The Market
In a press release, management of the facility said the market will be closed to the general public on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
It will be opened at noon, it said.
About The Market
The new Market is the first phase of the redevelopment of Kumasi Central Market and the Kejetia lorry terminal.
It was commissioned in 2018 after construction began in 2015 at the cost of US$259,425,000.
It is the largest open market in West Africa.
It encompasses an ultra-modern market with 8,420 stores, a clinic, a police station, a masjid(mosque), a social and recreational centre, an I.C.T centre, a post office, a fire post, banks, a butchery and a day-care centre.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
