The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has successfully put out the fire that burned for two days at the Blue Light Arena in Adum, Kumasi. The blaze affected over 5,000 traders and shop owners, causing widespread damage.

In a statement on Sunday, the GNFS praised the Ashanti Regional Fire Command for their determination in handling the crisis.

“Our brave firefighters have completely extinguished the fire. Well done to the Ashanti Regional Fire Command. You have done what Napoleon couldn’t do. We sincerely appreciate all stakeholders who supported us,” the statement read.

Despite their efforts, some affected traders blamed the Fire Service for delays. They claimed a lack of water worsened the destruction.

However, the GNFS dismissed these allegations. Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Officer 2 (ACFO2) Peter Tetteh, explained that congestion in the area—not water shortage—caused delays.

“We arrived minutes after the emergency call. We remained on the ground, but access was a major problem. The excavator came in late, making it difficult for us to reach the fire. If that had happened earlier, we could have controlled the situation faster,” he said.

ACFO2 Peter Tetteh also stated that firefighters had connected to the Kejetia hydrant early. He assured the public that water was not the issue.

“We had already connected to the Kejetia hydrant and started firefighting. Four tenders, tankers, a water cannon, and emergency services were all present. The problem was accessibility, not water shortage,” he clarified.