Some traders in Adum, Kumasi, are blaming the recent fire outbreak in the central business district on frequent power cuts in the area, which they say may have contributed to the blaze.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, gutted several shops housed in two-storey buildings in the bustling commercial district.

The fire at the popular Blue Light arena, close to Hello FM, started around 6 am and spread rapidly as fire fighters attempted to contain the blaze.

While the Ghana National Fire Service is still investigating the exact cause of the fire, traders claim that the recurrent power outages in the area may have played a role in igniting the flames.

According to the traders, the intermittent power cuts have damaged appliances.

Several of the affected shop owners reported having faced issues with their electrical equipment due to an unstable power supply in the area.

“You don’t have any mercy on the youth at all. We have been experiencing power cuts for weeks, and every time the electricity comes back, the power surge causes some of our appliances to malfunction,” said one local shopkeeper.

According to an eyewitness account, the fire sparked from a flicking electricity pole in the area, leading to a spark on the top floor of one of the buildings.Source: Emmanuel Tetteh