Kumasi: Man Sets Ahodwo Slum Ablaze Over Broken Heart, Leaving 400 Homeless
Over 100 structures destroyed as residents cry for help after heartbreak-fueled inferno.
- Over 400 slum dwellers displaced after a fire razed over 100 makeshift homes in Ahodwo, Kumasi
- 38-year-old man allegedly set the blaze following a breakup with his lover
- Victims seek urgent aid as many, including children, are left homeless and without essentials
A heartbreaking act of arson has left over 400 residents homeless after a fire swept through the Baba Ayoyo slum at Ahodwo in Kumasi on the night of Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The fire, which razed over 100 makeshift homes, was allegedly started by a 38-year-old man after his lover ended their relationship.
The devastating blaze broke out around 8:30 p.m., catching residents off guard and forcing many—mostly women and children—to flee for their lives. Stripped of shelter and basic belongings, numerous victims are now taking refuge in churches and the homes of sympathetic neighbors.
When Lawson News visited the area the following day, the scene was one of ruin and despair. Children roamed aimlessly, unable to attend school due to the destruction of their uniforms and books. Mothers, some with infants, shared their anguish as they pleaded for help.
“I live here with my elderly grandmother. Everything we own is gone. We slept on someone’s veranda last night,” one distraught resident recounted.
The victims are now appealing to government agencies, charitable organizations, and individuals for urgent relief in the form of food, clothes, and temporary shelter.
Assembly Member for the Ridge Nhyiaeso electoral area, Abraham Boadi, stated that NADMO and national security are scheduled to assess the damage on Friday, July 11. “The scale of displacement is overwhelming,” he said. “We’ve asked victims to find temporary shelter with friends and relatives while we wait on NADMO’s response.”
