On Friday, March 21, 2025, a devastating fire engulfed the Kumasi Central Business Market, also known as Adum Market. The tragedy resulted in significant losses, including the destruction of goods, food items, and services worth millions of Ghana cedis.

Amid the chaos, a video surfaced showing the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, expressing frustrations at the Ghana National Fire Service.

He questioned why they had arrived at the scene of the fire without sufficient water to combat the intense blaze.

The situation escalated further with a heated online exchange between Dr Amoakohene and Alex King Nartey, a representative of the Ghana National Fire Service’s public relations unit.

The disagreement centered around no water in the fire tenders to assist in extinguishing the blaze.

What are the facts of the matter so far? Here is a breakdown put together by GhanaWeb:

Ashanti Regional Minister blasts Ghana National Fire Service

According to Dr Amoakohene, the firefighters at the scene should have removed the fire tender at the scene of the fire because it was ineffective without water in it to combat the fire.

He expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that upon his arrival at the scene in the evening of the day, he inquired about the fire tender but was met with what he described as inadequate responses, which further fueled his frustration.

Dr Amoakohene said "If there is no water in the fire tender, move it away from here. What kind of behaviour is this? If there is water in it, why are you standing idle as if I am a small boy you can deceive?

"The explanations are too much. Move the vehicle from here! I have been asking about the fire tender for the past hour, but you are not telling me the truth. What kind of life is this? Move the fire tender away now, or I will order the boys to move it. It has been an hour since I asked you to bring a fire tender here."

Fire Service PRO fires back at Ashanti Regional Minister

In response to the ‘rants’ by the minister, Alex King Nartey of the GNFS PR Unit, went on social media to call out the regional minister over what he describes as an attempt to engage in self-aggrandizement at the expense of hardworking firefighters.

King Nartey questioned the motivation behind the minister's actions while noting their impact on the morale of the officers.

He stated “He could have easily just approached any of our officers or the commander at the scene without having to necessarily put a camera on himself to create a spectacle. To what end? Because at Kantamanto, there was no shouting, but we were able to quench the fire.

"So, what was the essence of the shouting with the cameras there, just to create a scene that you are working? When the men who are actually working and putting their lives on the line were being demoralised. Who does that?" he told TV3 in an interview.

You’re a politician not a serviceman – Dr Amoakohene to Alex King Nartey

In response to this social media rant, Dr Amoakohene also went onto Facebook to share an old post dated April 1, 2015, from the account of the GNFS PRO.

Dr Frank Amoakohene, with that old post, accused Alex King Nartey of being a politician rather than a serviceman, referencing the post that was purportedly made by him.

“Bro talked about social media without knowing the power of it. He’s a politician, not a serviceman,” he posted.

'I am not a card-bearing member of any party' - GNFS PRO to Dr Amoakohene

Reacting to the minister’s claim of being a politician and not a serviceman, Alex King Nartey said he does not belong to any political party as suggested by Dr Frank Amoakohene.

According to him, his comments against President John Mahama in previous years were an act of statesmanship, not partisanship.

He explained that "I might have made comments in the past against His Excellency, but that was BEFORE I joined the service and that was also In my capacity as a worried youth who among many criticized his shortfalls.

“In recent times, I have spoken and made posts to Commend highly moves by His Excellency the President. On record, I am NOT a Member or a Card Bearing member of any party and anyone with contrary evidence can come forward to prove me wrong,” he added.

Fire Service PRO apologises to Ashanti Regional Minister

To bury the hatchet, Alex King Nartey has issued an apology to Dr Frank Amoakohene over his ‘uncalled for’ comments.

According to him, even though he stands by his point that the minister could have used a better approach in conveying his displeasure with the service, he apologises for the comments he made.

"I have great respect and admiration for the honourable minister especially blazing the trail as the youngest minister.

"My intentions might have been taken out of context since I was acting on the belief that the honourable minister could have used a different approach in dealing with the firefighters who had risked their lives for hours at the fire ground," he wrote.

He added "The approach of publicly criticising them and videoing it was not the best, hence my comment that the shouting was uncalled for."

VKB/AE

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