A fire outbreak at the Techiman market in the Bono East Region has left traders counting their losses. The incident, which occurred in the late hours of Sunday, added to a troubling series of market fires that have plagued the country since the start of 2025. It destroyed several stalls and goods worth thousands of cedis.
The fire is reported to have spread rapidly, leaving extensive damage in its wake.
This incident marks yet another market fire in Ghana this year, following the devastating blazes that ravaged Accra’s Kantamanto market and the Kwadaso wood market in Kumasi earlier this month. The first two of the market fires have already left traders and local authorities grappling with the economic and social consequences.
A distraught person in Techiman who took a video of the market fire lamented that there were no fire service trucks at the scene to help quench the fire.
While the causes of these fires remain under investigation, the repeated incidents have raised concerns about fire outbreaks in Ghana’s markets. Poor infrastructure, outdated electrical systems, and the lack of fire prevention protocols have often been cited as contributing factors.
Some citizens on X have also described the market fires as one of “ too much coincidence”, calling for the arrest of perpetrators. “Is too much of a coincidence. Whoever is behind these fire outbreaks in markets must be arrested. Techiman Market on fire.”
Another tweeted saying “So who koraaa dey do do these things.. the rampant nature of these outbreaks just cements the fact that people are deliberately doing it. Cos tell me why it’s just the markets burning???”
The recent spate of fires will put pressure on local authorities and the government to address the vulnerabilities in Ghana’s markets.
