The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Faustilove Appiah Kannin, has visited the scene of a devastating fire outbreak at the Fobest Shopping Centre, popularly known as the Obuasi China Mall.
During her visit to the scene on Monday, Faustilove Appiah Kannin expressed sympathy to the victims and assured them of the Assembly’s support during this difficult period.
She further assured the affected traders that investigations would be conducted thoroughly to establish the exact cause of the fire and ensure accountability should any foul play be detected.
“We will ensure that the cause of the fire is properly investigated. If there is any act of negligence or criminality, the perpetrators will be dealt with according to the law,” the MCE stated.
The Presiding Member of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, David Odoom, together with some Assembly Members and officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), also visited the scene to sympathise with the victims and assess the situation.
The fire destroyed several shops and left traders counting heavy losses running into millions of Ghana cedis.
According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started around 1:00 a.m. at one of the shops in the rear section of the shopping complex before spreading rapidly to adjoining structures. More than seven shops were completely burnt, destroying goods and properties.
One of the affected victims, a mechanic shop owner, emotionally recounted his losses, indicating that he had recently stocked his shop with merchandise worth over GH¢900,000.
“Everything is gone. I have lost my entire investment,” he lamented.
Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service and safety authorities are yet to issue an official report on the incident, as investigations are ongoing.
However, several eyewitnesses have commended personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service and the AngloGold Ashanti Fire Unit for their swift intervention and professionalism in containing the inferno.
According to residents, the timely response of the firefighters prevented the blaze from escalating into a larger disaster that could have affected the entire shopping enclave and nearby properties.
The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness within major commercial centres in the Municipality.
Ernest Kofi Offen, ISD
Obuasi
