Kumasi, Ghana – President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the urgent need to ban the use of gas cylinders for cooking in markets, citing them as a major cause of fire outbreaks.
The President, who was in the Ashanti Region, specifically Nkawie, for the Tree of Life Initiative Program, rushed to the Adum Market in Kumasi upon receiving news of a devastating fire outbreak that had destroyed numerous properties and livelihoods.
During his address at the site of the incident, loud explosions could be heard in the background, further highlighting the dangers he was addressing.
He used the moment to urge traders to stop cooking in the markets for their own safety.
“As we stand here, you can hear explosions—those are gas cylinders bursting. This highlights another critical issue: we must not use gas cylinders inside our markets, and cooking should not take place in these areas,”he said.
Safer Alternatives for Traders
President Mahama encouraged traders to prepare their meals at home or purchase food from outside rather than cooking within market spaces.
“If you need to eat, you should either buy food from outside or prepare your meals at home and bring them along,” he stated.
He reiterated that open flames and gas cookers are leading causes of market fires, emphasizing the need for immediate action to end the practice.
“Gas cookers and open flames are some of the major causes of fire outbreaks in our markets, and we must put a stop to this practice to prevent future disasters,” he said.
Condolences and Government Support
President Mahama expressed his deep condolences to all those affected by the fire and assured them of government support to help them recover.
“Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to all the victims of this fire outbreak. The government will explore ways to provide some level of support to those affected, helping them recover as best as possible,” he said.
He called on market authorities and policymakers to take the Adum market fire as a wake-up call, stressing the need for urgent safety reforms in markets across the country.
“This incident serves as a wake-up call. We must take a serious look at our markets and implement better safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” he said.
A Call for Market Safety Reforms
The President’s remarks serve as a strong warning and a call to action for authorities to reassess market structures and enforce strict fire safety regulations.
His visit underscores the government’s commitment to protecting lives and businesses from preventable disasters.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 
