The Combined Kejetia Traders Association has expressed excitement over plans to renovate a portion of the Kejetia market that was ravaged by fire nearly three years ago.
The fire incident displaced over 50 traders, leaving their businesses in a precarious situation.
Many victims were rendered jobless and have struggled to rebuild their livelihoods since then.
Despite the efforts of the traders and their leadership to urge authorities to address the damage, progress had been slow.
However, the new Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has assured that steps will be taken to immediately address the issue.
He made this announcement following a working visit to the market on Tuesday, February 11.
“Work will soon begin on rehabilitating the Eastern Wing, which was damaged by fire on March 15, 2023, and has since been left unattended,” he stated on Facebook.
This announcement has been warmly welcomed by the leadership of the Combined Kejetia Traders Association.
In an interview with Orange Business News, the association’s Secretary, Reuben Ameh, lauded the minister for the initiative.
He believes it will significantly revive the hopes of the affected traders and enhance business activities in the area.
However, Mr. Ameh criticized the minister for not personally informing the traders about the upcoming repair works, which will temporarily impact some of their trading activities.
He believes that direct communication from the minister could have made the eviction process easier, rather than relying on announcements made by trader unions.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has pledged to remove all traders illegally occupying the entrance of the Kejetia Market.
This initiative aims to decongest the city center and ensure smooth business operations.
Following a visit to the market, the Minister shared on his Facebook page that he identified significant management challenges requiring immediate attention.
He noted the importance of clearing these traders from improper trading spaces to facilitate free movement, especially during emergencies.
“Immediate steps will be taken to clear encroachers at the entrance of the facility to ensure smooth movement for traders and enhance safety, particularly in emergency situations,” the statement read.
The Minister also plans to renovate the Eastern Wing of the market, which has remained dormant since a fire incident nearly three years ago.
“Work will soon begin on rehabilitating the Eastern Wing, which was damaged by fire on March 15, 2023, and has since been left unattended,” he stated.
He further announced plans to address the ongoing fire incidents in the market.
His office will convene a meeting on the pressing issues facing the market on Thursday, February 13.
He reiterated that the well-being and safety of traders, along with the smooth operation of Kejetia Market, remain a top priority.
Ghanaian musician Article Wan has come to the defence of dancehall artist Shatta Wale in the music industry. Urging the public to separate his talent from his personality. According to Article Wan, Shatta Wale’s immense contributions to the Ghanaian music industry should not be overshadowed by his controversial nature.
The Ngege hitmaker considers Shatta Wale his godfather in the music industry. He has emphasized that talent and achievements deserve more recognition than personal controversies.
“I think it’s about time we forget the artiste’s character and focus on pushing their talent regardless,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the challenges of managing strong personalities in the music industry. He also noted that some stakeholders tend to sideline artists they find difficult to control.
“Handling somebody who is too characteristic is difficult. If they realize they can’t control the person, then they pack the person,” he added.
Article Wan also stressed that an artiste’s character is an integral part of their brand identity. He also stressed that audiences should learn to differentiate between an artiste’s work and their personal conduct.
“When I see some kinds of talents, I see the character and know that the character is not good, but I feel the character is a part of the job,” he explained.
Last year, Article Wan dismissed claims that he had lost relevance in the music industry. And he assured fans that he remained a strong force in Ghanaian music. He clarified that his brief hiatus was a deliberate strategy to redefine his brand and adapt to current industry trends.
Despite the challenges in the music scene, the Solo crooner remains confident in his craft and continues to advocate for the recognition of raw talent over personality-driven narratives.
Article Wan’s Frustration Over Music Industry Challenges
Ghanaian musician Article Wan previously voiced his frustrations with the music industry, citing a lack of support, sabotage, and the influence of gatekeepers who manipulate the system. He revealed that he feels suppressed within the industry.
It was stated by the Solo hitmaker that Ghana is holding him back, making it difficult for him to release his work independently. The need for collective support was emphasized, as it was mentioned that some key figures have ignored him. Which he described as unfair
The existence of gatekeepers in the industry, who are believed to have the power to sabotage an artiste’s career, was also addressed by him.
He however refused to comment on whether there was ever a deliberate agenda to sabotage him. Although he admitted that what he has observed so far is concerning.
He also shared personal experiences of struggles in the industry, despite talent and hard work, were shared by the musician.
“Let’s be realistic, people have got their favourites. If you are not part of team A, when they are doing something, maybe selecting you will be their second option, you will never be their first option,” he added.
Gratitude was also expressed by Article Wan for the unwavering support from his fans. And gratitude for the continued success of his music, despite the obstacles faced.
He therefore acknowledged that divine intervention played a role in his musical journey, and the ability to continue producing music was credited to God. He also accentuated that in Ghana, many artists struggle to remain relevant after a hit song. However, collaborations with artists such as Patapaa and Joey B have contributed to his ongoing success. He added that his music has even gained traction in Russia.
“I thank my God in heaven because God has helped me with production. In Ghana, after one hit song, and it passes, that’s it for you. But I featured some hot songs after which included Patapaa, Joey B, and all these hits are coming from me and even making waves in Russia,” he said.
Despite these industry setbacks, optimism and appreciation for his career progress were reaffirmed by Article Wan.
A mother and her three children have died, following a fire outbreak in their home in the early hours of Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at Gyinyaase, Kumasi.
The fire, which started started at about 3am in the morning trapped the mother, Linda Agyemang and her three children, Ivan Agyemang, Lordina Agyemang and Ebenezer Afriyie inside their room.
According to the deceased’s husband, he received a phone call from his wife at about 3:30 am telling him their house was on fire, while he was on a work trip. “Daddy we’re burning”, he recounted her voice. He called again after a few minutes and there was no answer.
On his return back home, he met the dead bodies of his family as a result of the fire outbreak.
“I have lost everything. I have no friend, my wife and children were my everything”, he lamented.
The bodies of the deceased mother and children have been deposited in the morgue.
Linda was 33 years old and worked as a nurse. Her children were 13, 10 and 3 years old.
Two shops at the Kejetia market have been completely destroyed by a fire that broke out early Wednesday dawn.
The blaze reportedly started around 3 AM, reducing the contents of the shops to ashes.
The fire consumed various items, including chemicals used in the production of Parazone, soaps, detergents, and clothing.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, there are speculations that it may have been ignited by the flammable chemicals stored in the shops.
Two other shops were affected, however the impact was minimal.
Traders around the area expressed their concerns about the recurring fire incidents and urged authorities to take immediate action.
“I struggle to sleep lately; how can I rest when the market keeps experiencing fires at night?” A trader Prince Oppong lamented.
He called on the market leadership to adopt proactive measures to address such situations.
Speaking with Orange Business News’ Fatawu Bayaga, Reuben Ameh, Secretary of the Combined Kejetia Traders Association, stated that this incident marks the second fire at the market in less than a month, which is alarming.
“I feel terrible and pained. Frankly, these days, whenever my phone rings after 10 PM, I get scared, fearing that the call will inform me of another fire at Kejetia,” he said.
Mr. Ameh also noted that some traders have chosen to relocate from the market due to fears of losing their merchandise to fire and other challenges.
He believes that increasing awareness about fire safety, enforcing fire safety measures, and implementing insurance policies could help mitigate the impact of future fire incidents.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frank Abrokwa, has been transferred to the police headquarters in Accra following the violent incidents during the Council of State election in Kumasi.
DCOP Abrokwa was said to be in charge of the police team at the election venue when the chaos erupted.
According to Orange News sources, the current Commander of the Central West Police Region is set to assume his position.
The violence began when a group of heavily built men forcibly entered the venue, overturning tables, damaging ballot boxes, and scattering essential voting materials.
This disruption forced officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the election process.
The unrest is believed to have been triggered by the unexpected defeat of Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, who was widely anticipated to win.
Supporters of Obimpeh, reportedly angered by the election results, allegedly incited the violence and called for a review of the outcome.
Meanwhile, the police have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators involved in the unrest.
President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the National Investigations Bureau(NIB) to launch an investigation into the National Service Authority operations under the previous government, following the ghost name on payroll scandal.
During a head count of active National Service personnels at the behest of the Minister for Finance as a prerequisite for the clearance of allowance arrears, dating back to August 2024, up to 81, 885 suspected ghost names were found to be on the National Service payroll. An amount of GHC 226,019,224 was released to settle 98,145 actual service personnels out of the 180,030 names presented by the authority.
President Mahama has therefore ordered the NIB to investigate the matter for clarifications.
He also tasked the new management to carry out urgent reforms to prevent the recurrence of the the phenomenon.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has directed the Ghana Police Service and National Security to immediately investigate the violence that erupted during the Council of State elections in Kumasi.
Chaos ensued when a group of heavily built men forcibly entered the venue, overturning tables, damaging ballot boxes, and scattering essential voting materials.
This disruption compelled officials from the Electoral Commission (EC) to halt the election process.
The unrest is believed to have been triggered by the unexpected defeat of Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate who was widely anticipated to win.
Supporters of Obimpeh, reportedly angered by the election results, allegedly incited the violence and called for a review of the outcome.
In a statement, the Minister condemned such acts, stating that they undermine the democratic process and must not be tolerated.
He urged for calm, respect for the rule of law, and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive after he failed to honor investigations. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng made the announcement at a press briefing, stating that Ofori-Atta had refused to return to the country for questioning.
According to Agyebeng, the Office of the Special Prosecutor directed Ofori-Atta to confirm a reasonable return date by February 10, 2025. However, his lawyers responded with a medical letter claiming he was undergoing tests and possible surgery in a foreign country. The OSP rejected this letter, insisting that Ofori-Atta must appear in person for questioning.
The Special Prosecutor emphasized that legal representatives could not answer questions on behalf of someone under investigation. “The lawyers are not under investigation. I don’t need lawyers to answer questions on your behalf,” Agyebeng stated. He stressed that Ofori-Atta’s indefinite stay abroad was unacceptable. “Mr. Ofori Atta lawyers transmitted to the OSP a generic letter procured by Mr. Ofori Atta purporting to be from a doctor in a foreign jurisdiction, stating that Mr. Ofori Atta had been seen and evaluated, and that he was undergoing further testing and management and possible surgical intervention at an indicated future time.”
On February 11, 2025, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers sent another letter to the OSP. They inquired whether the office had authorized a raid on his residence that same morning. According to the lawyers, 12 men, including one police officer, four military personnel, and seven others in plain clothes, stormed the house. They allegedly searched every room, office, and gym by force. “at 4.16 p.m. the very next day, Tuesday 11 February 2025, before we could respond to the letter that came on Monday, the Office of the Special Prosecutor received another letter from Mr. Ofori atta’s lawyers. This time, it was an inquiry.”
Kissi Agyebeng categorically denied the Office of The Special Prosecutor’s involvement in any such operation. He said, “Mr. Ofori Atta, the OSP did not raid your house on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, or on any other day. Mr. Ofori Atta, the OSP did not cause any persons, however uniformed or bedecked, to raid your house on 11 February 2025, or on any other day. Mr. Ofori Atta, that could not have been the OSP, and that is not our style.”
He described the supposed raid as a staged act or an imposter action aimed at tarnishing the OSP’s reputation. “If the OSP enters your premises, you will not be in doubt. We have unique methods and insignia,” Agyebeng asserted.
The Special Prosecutor further questioned the credibility of Ofori-Atta’s medical excuse, stating that no serious law enforcement agency would accept such claims without solid evidence. He insisted that the former minister was using illness as a pretext to avoid returning. “We are of the firm conviction here that this is only a ruse employed by Mr. Ofori Atta in aid of his intention to avoid returning to the jurisdiction and to personally answer questions in respect of the investigations.”
The OSP’s intelligence suggests that Ofori-Atta had no intention of returning. His first communication, sent on January 31, 2025, stated that he had left the country indefinitely. This, according to the Special Prosecutor, proves his unwillingness to cooperate with the investigation. “We are convinced that the real intention of Mr. Ofori Atta is what was communicated to the OSP in the very first letter transmitted by his lawyers on 31 January 2025,” Agyebeng declared.
Following these developments, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has officially declared Ken Ofori-Atta a wanted person. Agyebeng announced that all necessary legal steps would be taken to secure his return. “You have two choices,” he warned. “You can either return to the jurisdiction voluntarily, or the OSP will enforce your return.You have two choices.”
Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO1) Antwi Bosiako of the Ghana Fire Service in the Ashanti region has issued a critical safety advisory, recommending that the public store gas cylinders outside the kitchen to minimize the risk of property damage in the event of an explosion.
ADO1 Antwi Bosiako speaking on the Orange Sunrise
In an interview with Alfa Ali on the Orange Sunrise show, ADO1 Antwi Bosiako explained that gas cylinders contain chemicals that can ignite when exposed to heat, leading to devastating explosions.
To ensure safety, Mr. Antwi Bosiako advised that gas cylinders stored outside the kitchen should be protected from direct sunlight, which can also cause explosions. “Shield the cylinder from direct sunlight using a metal cage or a cover,” he recommended.
ADO1 Antwi Bosiako’s safety advisory comes amid a surge in fire incidents in the region since January 2025. He attributes the alarming trend to a lack of awareness about basic safety precautions.
