A fierce fire has swept through the warehouse of the newly opened China Mall located at Santasi in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region, destroying goods and properties estimated to be worth several millions of Ghana cedis.
The incident, which occurred in the early afternoon of Thursday, October 30, 2025, sent waves of panic across the area as thick clouds of black smoke covered the skyline. The inferno, which reportedly started in the warehouse section of the facility, spread rapidly due to the combustible nature of the materials stored inside, leaving the entire structure engulfed in flames.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as terrifying, with workers, customers, and nearby residents fleeing for safety as the fire intensified. “I was driving past when I saw heavy smoke rising from behind the mall. Within minutes, the entire area was covered in flames. The heat was so strong that people couldn’t get close,” recounted an eyewitness who operates a shop nearby.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were quickly dispatched to the scene following distress calls from the public and management of the facility. Several fire tenders from the Kumasi Metro, Komfo Anokye, and Asokwa fire stations were deployed to battle the raging blaze. Despite their swift response, the flames proved difficult to control due to the volume of combustible goods, including plastics, fabrics, furniture, and electronic appliances.
Firefighters worked tirelessly for several hours to prevent the inferno from spreading to the main shopping mall, which houses various retail shops, offices, and food outlets. As of Thursday evening, officers were still on the ground battling remnants of the fire and assessing the extent of damage
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Henry Giwah, who led the firefighting operations, confirmed that the situation was severe and that investigations had commenced to establish the cause. “It’s an extensive fire, and our men are doing their best to contain it. We can confirm that millions of cedis worth of property have been destroyed. We are currently investigating to determine the exact cause and to assess the total loss,” he stated
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) were also at the scene to provide support and ensure public safety. Power supply to the area was temporarily cut off to prevent further electrical hazards as emergency services worked to bring the fire under control
Traffic on the busy Santasi–Obuasi road was heavily disrupted for several hours, as police diverted vehicles to alternative routes to make way for emergency vehicles and to control the large crowd that had gathered to witness the incident.
Preliminary observations suggest that the warehouse, which stored large quantities of imported goods from China, was completely destroyed. No fatalities have been reported, but several workers and customers sustained minor injuries during the chaotic evacuation process.
Management of China Mall is yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, but sources close to the facility described the damage as a major setback for the company, which only began operations in Kumasi a few months ago.
Meanwhile, local traders and residents in the Santasi area have expressed concern over the growing number of fire incidents affecting commercial establishments in Kumasi. Many have called on city authorities to strengthen fire safety regulations, enforce regular inspections, and ensure that large retail facilities are equipped with adequate firefighting systems.
The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is expected to collaborate with the Fire Service and NADMO to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the disaster. Officials have assured the public that a detailed report will be released after investigations are concluded.
As firefighters continue to monitor the area to extinguish residual flames, the destruction at the China Mall warehouse stands as a painful reminder of the urgent need for effective fire prevention strategies and stronger enforcement of safety measures across Ghana’s commercial spaces.
Story Filed By Gifty Dazy