Market fires: negligence, corruption, or a nation’s unending curse?

By Richard DENANYOH

Ghana’s bustling markets are the lifeblood of its informal economy, providing livelihoods for millions and serving as critical hubs for commerce, culture, and community. Yet, beneath the vibrant energy of these trading centers lies a sinister, persistent threat—market fires.

Over the years, these devastating infernos have claimed lives, destroyed property worth millions, and shattered dreams overnight.

But as the embers cool and the ashes settle, the nation is left grappling with an unsettling question: Are these fires a consequence of human negligence, deeply-rooted corruption, or something more enigmatic—a curse that continues to haunt the country’s commercial heart?

Despite numerous investigations and well-intentioned promises from authorities, the fires keep raging. Reports of faulty electrical systems, haphazard structural modifications, political interference, and even whispered accusations of sabotage paint a chaotic and frustrating picture.

Yet, just as troubling are the explanations rooted in spirituality—claims that market fires are the handiwork of malevolent spirits, curses, or divine retribution for sins committed by the community. This interplay of fact, fiction, and faith makes finding lasting solutions even more difficult.

This article takes a comprehensive look at the realities of market fires in Ghana, unpacking the roles played by negligence, corruption, and cultural beliefs. As the nation searches for answers, one thing becomes abundantly clear: The truth may be more complicated than anyone is willing to admit.

Market fires have become a recurring and devastating issue in Ghana, particularly affecting major trading hubs such as Makola, Kantamanto, Kejetia, Techiman, Adum and Asafo markets.

These incidents not only disrupt the livelihoods of thousands of traders but also result in significant economic losses, raising critical questions about the underlying causes—whether they stem from negligence, corruption, or deeply rooted myths.

This article delves into these factors, examining recent statistics and incorporating perspectives from stakeholders to provide a comprehensive understanding of this persistent problem. ​

The scale of the problem

The markets of Ghana play a crucial role in its informal economy, providing employment to a substantial portion of the population. Over the past five years, there have been at least 20 significant market fires recorded across various regions, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures. The importance of these markets cannot be overstated, as they are the backbone of Ghana’s informal economy. According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, over 80% of the country’s workforce is engaged in the informal sector, with market trading forming a considerable part of this demographic. Market fires pose threats not only to individual livelihoods but also to the economic stability of entire communities.

There have been several significant market fires in recent years:

• Makola Market Fire (2021 & 2022): Massive fires gutted many shops, with the 2021 incident alone resulting in millions of cedis worth of losses.
• Kejetia Market Fire (2023): A fire broke out at the newly constructed Kejetia Market, raising questions about structural safety and building standards.
• Techiman Market Fire (2025): More than 700 make-shift structures serving as shops at the market were destroyed in a fire outbreak exactly a month after a similar incident burned down over hundreds of structures.
• ​Adum Market Fire (2025): A fire broke out at Adum Market, located in the heart of Kumasi’s Central Business District in Ashanti Region of Ghana destroying hundreds of structures.
• Kantamanto Market Fire (2013, 2015, 2021, 2025): Repeated fires have left traders devastated and sparked heated discussions about accountability. Accra’s Kantamanto Market is one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing markets. The blaze destroyed thousands of stalls, affecting approximately 8,000 people and causing economic losses estimated in millions of Ghanaian cedis.

Negligence: a fundamental problem

Negligence is frequently cited as a primary factor contributing to market fires in Ghana. Key issues include:

• Electrical faults: Faulty wiring and illegal electrical connections are rampant in many markets, leading to frequent short circuits and fires. Poorly maintained electrical systems are prone to overloading, particularly during peak trading hours when vendors rely heavily on power. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported that domestic fires, often caused by electrical faults, led with 35.8% of incidents in June 2024.
• Inadequate fire safety infrastructure: Many markets lack essential fire safety measures, such as accessible fire hydrants and functional extinguishers. Additionally, emergency exits are often obstructed by makeshift stalls and unauthorized structures, making evacuation during a fire difficult. During the recent Adum Market fire, the lack of access roads impeded firefighters’ efforts to control the blaze promptly.
• Poor waste management: Accumulation of flammable materials such as cardboard, plastic, and textiles due to inadequate waste management practices increases the risk of fires spreading rapidly once ignited. Markets are often overcrowded, with vendors storing highly combustible goods without following safety protocols.
• Lack of fire drills and safety education: Traders often lack basic knowledge of fire prevention and emergency response. Market management authorities rarely organize fire drills or provide fire safety education, leaving traders unprepared for potential disasters. This lack of awareness contributes to panic and poor decision-making when fires do occur.
• Absence of maintenance protocols: The absence of systematic maintenance and inspection of market facilities contributes to the deterioration of electrical installations, structural integrity, and fire prevention systems. Markets built decades ago are often left in a state of disrepair, further compounding the problem.
• Dumsor (power outages): Ghana’s frequent power outages, commonly referred to as ‘Dumsor’, are another critical contributor to market fires. During power cuts, vendors often rely on alternative energy sources such as generators, candles, and kerosene lamps. Improper handling of these devices or accidents related to refueling generators can spark devastating fires. Additionally, sudden power surges when electricity is restored can cause electrical faults and short circuits, further increasing the risk of fire outbreaks.
• Government apathy: Authorities often react only after fires have occurred rather than implementing preventive measures. Bureaucratic delays and lack of coordination between local authorities and the Ghana National Fire Service further hinder efforts to address safety issues proactively.

The negligence surrounding market safety in Ghana highlights the urgent need for better regulation, improved infrastructure, and a comprehensive fire prevention strategy.

Corruption: the shadow factor

Corruption is a pervasive and deeply rooted problem that undermines effective fire prevention and response efforts in Ghanaian markets. Allegations of corruption often surface in the aftermath of market fires, with concerns centered around:​

• Weak enforcement of regulations: Building codes and fire safety regulations are frequently ignored or poorly enforced due to bribery and other corrupt practices. Market officials and inspectors, tasked with ensuring safety compliance, are sometimes compromised, allowing poorly constructed structures with inadequate safety measures to continue operating. This negligence often results in catastrophic fires that could have been prevented with stricter enforcement.
• Misallocation of funds: Financial resources intended for improving market infrastructure, such as installing proper wiring, building access routes for firefighting vehicles, and providing safety education, are often misappropriated. Corrupt officials divert these funds for personal gain, leaving markets vulnerable to fires and other disasters. Public sector corruption not only wastes critical resources but also perpetuates the cycle of fire disasters.
• Political motivations and arson: Allegations of politically motivated arson are not uncommon in Ghana. In some instances, market fires are suspected to have been deliberately set to destabilize opposition-aligned trading communities or forcefully displace traders for redevelopment projects. While evidence to support such claims is often lacking, the suspicion itself underscores a deep mistrust of political actors and public institutions.
• Lack of Accountability: When market fires occur, investigations are often launched, but few lead to meaningful reforms or punishment for those found negligent. The absence of accountability emboldens corrupt officials to continue exploiting their positions without fear of consequences.
• Procurement Irregularities: Corruption also infiltrates the procurement processes meant to equip markets with safety tools. Contracts awarded for the supply of firefighting equipment are often inflated or handed to unqualified contractors who fail to deliver reliable services. This results in markets remaining woefully unprepared to respond to fire emergencies.

The systemic corruption affecting market safety highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms. Without addressing these fundamental issues, efforts to prevent market fires will remain inadequate and unsustainable.

Myth and Superstition: The Spiritual Dimension

In Ghana, traditional beliefs and superstitions can influence perceptions of market fires:

• Spiritual Beliefs: Many Ghanaians hold the belief that market fires are not purely accidental but are sometimes the result of supernatural forces or spiritual punishment. Some traders attribute fires to curses, witchcraft, or the anger of neglected deities, interpreting repeated incidents in certain locations as signs of spiritual displeasure. Market spaces are often viewed as sacred grounds that require rituals and offerings to pacify spirits believed to be angered by activities perceived as disrespectful.
• Ritualistic Arson: In certain cases, suspicions of ritualistic arson emerge. Claims of individuals intentionally setting fires as part of spiritual rituals to attract wealth or power are not uncommon, though evidence to support such beliefs remains largely anecdotal.
• Prophetic Warnings and Fearmongering: Influential spiritual leaders sometimes claim to have foreseen market fires, warning traders of impending disasters. This prophetic culture can influence perceptions and behaviors, with some traders opting to invest more in spiritual protection than physical safety measures.
• Cultural narratives and market rebuilding: It is also believed that some market fires occur as part of traditional cleansing rituals where old structures must be destroyed to make way for new, more prosperous ones. Such beliefs can influence how communities respond to disaster and shape their expectations of recovery.

The spiritual dimension of market fires, while often dismissed by authorities as mere superstition, continues to hold significant sway over the perceptions and actions of traders and the general public. Addressing this aspect requires not only scientific explanations and infrastructural improvements but also culturally sensitive engagement with affected communities.

Genuine Accidents: The unavoidable factor

While negligence, corruption, and superstitions are often blamed for market fires, it is essential to acknowledge that some incidents are purely accidental. Markets are bustling environments where high human traffic, congested stalls, and the constant movement of goods make accidents inevitable. Fires may start from mishandling of flammable substances, spontaneous combustion of improperly stored items, or accidental drops of lit cigarettes.

Furthermore, the use of open flames for cooking and heating by some vendors increases the likelihood of accidental fires. In certain cases, weather conditions such as intense heat during the dry season can cause flammable materials to ignite more easily. Although these genuine accidents are not the primary cause of most market fires, they do contribute to the overall risk landscape and should be factored into any comprehensive fire prevention strategy.

Preventing such accidents requires continuous safety education, stricter enforcement of market regulations, and proper infrastructural planning to ensure that accidental ignition does not escalate into a widespread disaster.

A reality check

The recurrent market fires in Ghana demand a clear-eyed assessment of the reality on the ground. While negligence, corruption, and superstition are often pointed to as root causes, the underlying structural issues must not be overlooked. In 2024 alone, market fires caused economic losses of over GHS 200 million nationwide, displacing tens of thousands of traders and threatening food security and commerce.

Furthermore, the persistent belief in spiritual causes often shift attention away from tangible reforms. Traders who attribute market fires to curses or spiritual warfare may be less likely to invest in safety protocols, trusting instead in rituals and prayers. This creates a cycle where prevention is overshadowed by reaction, making it more difficult to address the true causes of these disasters.

The challenge remains how to reconcile these perceptions with the need for practical solutions.

Stakeholders, including the government, market associations, and the Ghana National Fire Service, must collaborate to implement policies that prioritize safety, accountability, and public awareness. Until then, Ghana’s markets will remain vulnerable to devastating fires, regardless of their origins.

The way forward: a comprehensive approach

Addressing the recurrent market fires in Ghana requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders. Key recommendations include:

• Improved infrastructure and regulation: Market authorities must enforce building codes, provide adequate firefighting facilities, and ensure that access roads are clear for emergency responders.
• Enhanced safety education: Regular fire drills and education campaigns should be conducted to raise awareness among traders about fire prevention and emergency response.
• Accountability and transparency: Anti-corruption measures should be strengthened to ensure that funds allocated for market safety improvements are used effectively.
• Collaboration with spiritual leaders: Engaging religious and community leaders to promote a balanced approach that combines spiritual beliefs with practical safety measures.
• Implementation of technology: Installing smoke detectors, automatic sprinkler systems, and surveillance cameras to enhance safety monitoring and early detection.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government agencies, private sector entities, and market associations to improve infrastructure and fire safety standards.
• Effective enforcement of safety regulations: The government should implement and enforce stringent safety standards and protocols across all markets.

Only through coordinated efforts can Ghana hope to mitigate the devastating impact of market fires and protect the livelihoods of its citizens.

Conclusion

The ongoing market fires in Ghana paint a grim picture of institutional neglect, systemic corruption, deep-seated cultural beliefs, and infrastructural decay. While fingers continue to point in every direction, the true tragedy lies in the continued suffering of thousands of traders who lose their livelihoods overnight.

If Ghana is to break free from this vicious cycle, the nation must confront uncomfortable truths and embrace bold reforms. Are we prepared to tackle negligence, root out corruption, and redefine our approach to safety, or will we continue to pass the blame while our markets burn? The time for decisive action is now.

Richard Denanyoh is a freelance writer and the Executive Director of Centre for Small Business Affairs, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide advocacy, research and capacity-building initiatives that support small businesses and entrepreneurs across Africa, enabling them to thrive in dynamic economic conditions.  The writer is also a former Senior Lecturer of Marketing & Entrepreneurship at Sunyani Technical University.

Email: [email protected]