The Manhyia Divisional Police Command has arrested and detained a 49-year-old driver, Awudu Karim, for his possible responsibility in negligently causing dangerous fire at the Kumasi Central Market on the hot afternoon of Monday.

At least 51 persons were affected by the fire which ravaged a portion of one of the biggest markets in West Africa in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi.

Supt Frank Abrokwa, Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), who confirmed this, said officials of Ashanti Foam Company brought the suspect to the police after his alleged negligence and reckless driving caused a fire outbreak.

According to him, the suspect, who was in charge of Mazda truck with registration number GT 6693-11, ignored warning signals from a uniformed police officer directing traffic when his overloaded vehicle was about to come in contact with a live electric cable around the Kumasi Central Market.

Several shops and stores were gutted when the fire erupted in front of a three storey building with the flames threatening lives of occupants.

The inferno, which was said to have begun around 1:30 pm, destroyed quantities of the mattresses loaded in the truck.

The incident occurred some few blocks away from the main entrance of the market, which has for years proven to be a fire-prone area.