Fire has gutted parts of the new Kejetia Market in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The fire started around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, March 15.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but according to OTECNews’ reporter Nana Asare Barimah, the fire is spreading to parts of the market.

Following the incident, the Managing Director of the Kumasi City Markets Ltd, Mr Duffour Addai in a statement gave a directive for all traders not to operate in the market from Thursday March 16, 2023 morning to 12 noon to allow fire officers ample space to undertake investigations.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service are currently battling to put out the raging fire.

Response from the Ghana Fire Service was impeded because some access routes to the market had been taken over by trading sheds.

Mr Duffour Addai revealed that, “In view of the fire incident that took place on Wednesday evening, management has decided that on Thursday, we are opening the place at 12 noon. This will give the Fire Service personnel the opportunity to inspect all their hydrants. You know this is an automatic system and even though one shop triggered the fire, around that one shop, a lot of the sprinklers were opened to quench the fire automatically. So they have to inspect all that which were opened”.

Meanwhile, The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had recommended the closure of the Kejetia market in Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region after a disastrous fire outbreak in the area.

The closure according NADMO will afford security agencies to access the extent of damage and find solution.

There was a fire outbreak at the new Kejetia Market in Kumasi on Wednesday March 15, 2023.

Officials from the Ghana National Service (GNFS) spent closedd to five hours are at the scene to douse the fire.

Addressing the media on the incident, the Ashanti Regional NADMO director, Mr Francis Doudu said their outfit has asked managers of the facility to closed the market for thorough investigations.

He aded that they are yet to find out the cause of the fire outbreak.

Mr Doudu disclosed that no death has been recorded so far in the inferno