A fierce fire has reportedly gutted the newly opened China City Mall located at Santase in Kumasi, sending shoppers and workers fleeing for safety.
Eyewitnesses say the blaze began suddenly, spreading quickly through parts of the building. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Firefighters are currently at the scene battling to bring the situation under control. The extent of damage and whether there are casualties remain unclear.
The inferno, which started on Thursday, October 30, engulfed the commercial facility, leaving in its wake a scene of heavy damage and thick smoke visible from several metres away.
Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) say the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but preliminary reports suggest it may have started from the rear section of the building before spreading rapidly throughout the mall.
“We received a distress call about the fire and dispatched two fire tenders to the scene immediately. Our men have been working tirelessly to contain the blaze,” a GNFS officer told MyJoyOnline at the scene.
Despite the firefighters’ efforts, the fire consumed the entire building, which housed various shops dealing in home accessories, electronics, and groceries.
No casualties have been reported so far, according to officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who were also on-site to assist with recovery efforts.
The mall, which opened earlier in 2025, had become a popular shopping destination for residents of Kumasi and surrounding communities.
