Tragedy struck the Kasoa New Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality on the evening of Sunday, January 4, 2026, as a massive fire swept through a significant portion of the trading hub. The inferno, which began during the evening hours, has left shop owners and traders in a state of shock as property worth thousands of Ghana cedis was reduced to ashes.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded swiftly to the emergency calls, but the intensity of the blaze necessitated a large-scale mobilization of resources. Initially, personnel from the Kasoa and Weija Fire Stations arrived at the scene to battle the flames. However, as the fire continued to spread rapidly across the market's stalls and storage containers, additional reinforcements were requested. Consequently, fire tenders and water pumps were dispatched from various stations across Accra to support the operation.
According to preliminary reports from the GNFS, firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the night to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring residential structures and unaffected sections of the market. The dense nature of the market stalls and the presence of highly combustible materials made the operation particularly challenging. As of the latest updates, no casualties have been officially reported, though the psychological and financial toll on the affected traders is
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This recent disaster has reignited concerns regarding fire safety and accessibility within Ghana's major markets. The Kasoa New Market has unfortunately seen similar incidents in the past, including a major blaze in August 2024 that destroyed over 80 shops. In previous instances, the GNFS has highlighted difficulties in reaching the seat of fires due to narrow access routes and the encroachment of structures on roads intended for emergency vehicles.
Authorities have urged traders and residents to remain clear of the area to allow emergency teams unfettered access to the site for cooling-off operations and damage assessment. While the exact cause of the 2026 fire is yet to be established, investigators from the GNFS are expected to conduct a thorough forensic audit to determine the source of the spark.
For the many traders who have lost their livelihoods in a single night, the road to recovery appears daunting. Community leaders are calling for more stringent fire safety protocols and the installation of functional hydrants to prevent such recurring tragedies in one of the region’s busiest economic zones.