Sunyani Zongo Inferno Destroys Five Shops, Leaves Traders Devastated

A devastating fire outbreak at Sunyani Zongo in the Bono Region on Monday, December 15, 2025, has destroyed at least five shops, reducing goods and materials worth thousands of Ghana cedis to ashes.

The inferno, which reportedly started around 9:30 a.m., spread rapidly through the affected structures, leaving traders helpless as their means of livelihood were wiped out within minutes.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire originated from a hardware shop and quickly engulfed nearby businesses, offering shop owners little opportunity to salvage their belongings.

One of the affected traders, Kofi Kumi, a tailor, narrated the ordeal, describing the speed and intensity of the blaze.

“The fire started from a hardware shop, and before we could fully grasp what was happening, the flames had spread rapidly towards my shop. Because of the intensity of the fire, we were forced to evacuate immediately to save our lives, leaving everything to be consumed by the fire,” he said.

The swift intervention of personnel from the Sunyani Municipal Fire Station prevented the fire from spreading further to adjoining shops and residential structures.

Confirming the incident, the Bono Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO II Cecil Addo, said his team responded promptly after receiving a distress call.

“We received a distress call at our control room at about 9:30 a.m., and we immediately mobilised and dispatched our personnel to the scene. Upon arrival, our team worked swiftly and professionally to contain the blaze and successfully douse the fire, preventing it from spreading further,” he stated.

ACFO II Addo disclosed that it took fire officers nearly 50 minutes to fully bring the inferno under control due to its intensity. However, he was grateful that no casualties were recorded.

“Although it took some time because of how intense the fire was, we are thankful that no lives were lost,” he added.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established, while affected traders have appealed for support to help them recover from the loss.