- Adum Blue Light market traders resist planned demolitions
- Rebuilding efforts are self-funded by victims and private donors
- Mayor calls the reconstruction “illegal” and sets July 31 as the deadline
Victims of the Adum Blue Light market fire have strongly opposed a decision by Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi to demolish structures they have been rebuilding with their own resources.
The affected traders argue that they are personally financing the reconstruction of their damaged stores and have urged the mayor to direct public funds toward other pressing projects instead.
Mayor Boadi has described the traders’ efforts as “illegal and non-technical”, setting a demolition deadline of July 31. He warned that the unauthorized structures would be pulled down regardless of the cost to the traders.
“I don’t understand why people would risk losing money twice. Whatever they put up will be demolished, so they should take their items home daily, or one day they’ll return to find everything gone,” the mayor stated.
The traders, however, fear that if the government takes over reconstruction, shops might be reallocated through political favoritism, rather than returned to their rightful owners.
One of the traders, Prince Owusu, criticized the mayor’s plan, saying that the current rehabilitation work is almost complete, and they cannot afford to wait years for an official rebuild.
“You want us to wait three years while you construct? That would kill our businesses. We can’t allow it,” Owusu said.
The traders emphasized that the ongoing reconstruction is being funded by individual contributions and donations from philanthropists.
The fire, which occurred on March 21, 2025, destroyed three-story buildings and hundreds of shops, devastating the local economy.
Despite the setback, business activity is gradually returning. Some traders have rebuilt their stores, and efforts are underway to construct culverts to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
