By A devastating fire swept through parts of the Kwadaso Market in the Ashanti region of Ghana, destroying over 40 shops and their contents. The blaze, which started in the early hours of Thursday, August 1, 2024, has left traders in the M line of the market in anguish over the loss of millions of cedis worth of goods.
The fire consumed a wide range of merchandise including fabrics, footwear, frozen foods, plantain, yams, and other items. Affected traders expressed their despair, stating that the fire has left them unable to continue their businesses, which serve as their sole source of livelihood.
One 62-year-old trader recounted her losses: “All our plantain have been burnt, we are at a great loss, GHC4,000 to GHC5,000 plantain all destroyed. We bought the plantain on credit and we have to pay, we don’t know how to go about it. Those who gave us the plantain on credit will definitely come after us, they wouldn’t care. We really need help, myself and my colleagues.”
Another trader, 71-year-old Adwoa Connie, who sells fabrics, shoes, and hair scarves, appealed for government assistance: “I took a loan, I had a call that all my fabrics were destroyed, and I’m appealing to the government to come to my aid so that I can restart the business. I’m 71 years old and my kids are in school, there is no help anywhere.”
A third trader estimated her losses at over a million cedis, stating, “This is the only job I can do. I got new stock just Wednesday and everything is gone. I have kids too, the money lost could be over a million cedis. I’m pleading with the government to come to my aid.”
The fire has not only destroyed the livelihoods of these traders but has also put many of them in precarious financial situations, with some facing the prospect of defaulting on loans or credit arrangements.
As the affected traders grapple with their losses, many are calling for government intervention to help them rebuild their businesses and recover from this devastating setback.
Source: myjoyonline.com
