Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said he has been informed by officers from the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) that the Kumasi Kejetia Market fire that happened on Thursday, 16 March 2023, was caused by a gas explosion.
Addressing the traders when he visited the fire scene in the Ashanti Region, he said, he has gathered from the investigation by officers from the GNFS that one of the traders was cooking in the shop with gas very close to other shops that sold chemicals and even gun powder causing the explosion.
According to Dr Bawumia, the officers said the fire was not caused by an electrical fault as it has been rumoured.
Dr Bawumia pledged the government's support for the affected traders to return to business.
He further promised that the government will implement the recommendations of the committee set up to investigate the fire incident.
He applauded the fire service and NADMO for helping bring the fire under control that only 33 shops got burnt out of 8000.
The Vice President also indicated that the market will be reopened for business tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, 2023, contrary to the Board of the Market deciding to close it for a week.