The Committee that was tasked with investigating the Kejetia New Market fire has submitted its report to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, recommending that the epicentre of the fire should be closed indefinitely.
The aim is to allow for further assessment of the damage caused by the inferno and to check the integrity of structures there.
The committee found that “there were gas cylinders in the area of the fire that should not have been there,” in contravention of the measures and fire regulations in place in the market.
The report also noted that emergency service providers, including the Ghana National Service, provided excellent rescue services during the inferno.
However, the fire still caused considerable damage to the structure of the fire-affected area of the building.
The flames destroyed goods and properties, while the upper area of the market structure building suffered significant smoke staining to the soffit of the roof covering.
The Kejetia New Market fire incident took place on Wednesday, March 15, and destroyed properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.
The Committee was constituted on Friday, March 17, after a visit by a delegation from the Local Government Ministry, led by Osei Bonsu Amoah. The Ghana National Fire Service also commenced investigations into the fire incident.
The report disclosed that the incident damaged about 42 shops, out of which 12 recorded severe damages.
The committee's key recommendations include renewing the building permit, fire permit, and EPA permit, which are mandatory.