A district court in Kumasi has sentenced a food vendor, Kande Seidu, to 20 days in prison for repeatedly using open fire to cook at Alabar Market in breach of public market regulations.
The ruling was delivered on March 17 by Her Worship Deborah Gyawa Donkor at District Court Two, sitting at the Prempeh Assembly Hall. Prosecutors told the court that Seidu ignored several warnings from the Environmental Health Unit of the Manhyia South Sub-Metro Council.
Court documents indicated that Seidu and her sibling, Fati Seidu, had been cautioned multiple times under the Public Market By-Laws (2020) to stop using firewood in the market due to the risk of fire outbreaks and smoke nuisance.
Despite being advised to relocate to a safer area, the pair continued the practice. They were first cited on January 15, 2026, during a routine inspection by health officers.
While Fati Seidu pleaded guilty and was fined GH₵1,200, Kande Seidu failed to appear in court on February 23, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant for her arrest. She was later apprehended and sentenced.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly says the enforcement of market by-laws forms part of efforts to improve safety, hygiene, and sanitation in public trading spaces.
