A devastating fire swept through the Techiman Central Market on Sunday night, reducing over 100 stalls to ashes and leaving traders in anguish. The inferno, which started around 9:15 PM, destroyed goods worth millions of cedis, with fire personnel struggling to contain the fast-spreading blaze.
Eyewitnesses expressed frustration over the lack of adequate firefighting equipment, which they believe exacerbated the destruction. “I don’t know why a whole metropolitan area like Techiman has just one fire tender. If we had two or three, this fire could have been controlled in the early stages,” lamented an angry trader.
Another victim, who lost all her investments, tearfully appealed for help: “All the money I used to purchase these items was from the bank. Now everything is gone. How will I survive?” The Bono East Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Naomi Ofori Adubea Sarpong, confirmed that investigations have begun to determine the cause of the fire.
She explained that the congested layout of the market posed significant challenges for firefighters attempting to contain the flames. “In all, about six fire tenders, including those from Nkoranza, Kintampo, and Wenchi, were deployed to manage the situation,” ACFO II Sarpong stated.
She also urged residents to remain vigilant during the dry season and take precautions to prevent fires in their homes and communities. The tragic incident has left countless traders counting their losses and appealing for urgent intervention to rebuild their lives.
By: Anass Sabit
