Over 200 persons dwelling in Baba Ayoyo, a popular slum within the Ahodwo suburb of Kumasi, have been displaced after fire tore through their homes.
The fire reportedly ignited on the evening of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at about 8:30 pm, destroying over 100 makeshift structures.
It is unknown what sparked the inferno, but victims suspect arson as they accused a man believed to be the boyfriend of one of the occupants.
The slum dwellers, predominantly women and children, were left stranded and without shelter as they succumbed to the chilly weather.
The affected residents were forced to seek temporary refuge in nearby churches and homes.
Schoolchildren in the vicinity missed school after their learning materials and uniforms were destroyed by the fire.
They have been left to wander the precinct of the community, as some helped their families to salvage the few items not torched by the fire.
“I stay here with my grandmother, and she is old. We plead with you to help us. We slept on someone’s veranda last night. All our things are burnt; we couldn’t take anything,” one distressed woman shared.
The affected families are calling on the government and other non-governmental organisations to assist them with essentials like food, clothing and temporary shelter.
Assembly Member for the Ridge Nhyiaeso electoral area, Abraham Boadi, says the metro chief executive is yet to be briefed on the situation.
Although he cannot assure immediate aid to all the victims, he disclosed that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is expected to meet with victims on Friday, July 11, to assess the gravity of devastation.
“We have planned that tomorrow, around 4 o’clock, NADMO and national security will be here to assess the place and evaluate the property lost. The challenge now is that the number of displaced persons is too large, so we can’t find shelter for them all. We’ve encouraged them to speak to friends and family while we wait on NADMO,” he said.
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