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A district court in Kumasi has sentenced a food vendor to 20 days in prison for repeatedly defying orders banning the use of open fire at a local market.
The convict, Kande Seidu, who operates at Alabar Market, was handed the custodial sentence on Monday, March 16, 2026, by District Court Two sitting at Prempeh Assembly Hall.
The presiding judge, Deborah Gyawa Donkor, ordered the jail term after determining that Seidu had persistently ignored directives from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
Prosecutors told the court that Seidu, together with her sibling Fati Seidu, repeatedly violated safety regulations despite several warnings and abatement notices issued by the KMA’s Environmental Health Unit.
The two were first arraigned before the court on January 15, 2026, for breaching Sections 27 and 29 of the KMA Public Market By-Laws (2020), which prohibit the use of open fire in market spaces due to fire risks and public safety concerns.
During proceedings on February 23, 2026, Kande Seidu absented herself from court before her case was called, while her sister remained and pleaded guilty.
Fati Seidu was subsequently fined GH¢1,200, equivalent to 100 penalty units, after admitting to the offence.
The court later issued a bench warrant for Kande Seidu’s arrest following her failure to appear, leading to her re-arrest and eventual sentencing.
Authorities say the ruling serves as a strong warning to traders who continue to disregard market safety regulations, particularly those related to fire hazards in densely populated commercial areas.
