A massive fire tore through Accra’s Kantamanto Market in Ghana, in the early hours of Thursday, January 2, 2025, leaving over 100 shops in ruins and traders counting heavy losses.
The blaze, which began around 1:19 a.m., engulfed goods worth millions of cedis. Traders, many of whom have worked in the market for decades, described the incident as the worst they had ever seen and called on the government for immediate assistance.
“This is catastrophic. The electrical connections here are poor, and people even sleep in the market unprotected. We’ve lost millions of cedis. Some traders collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. We’re pleading with the government to step in and help us,” one trader lamented.
Other traders pointed to obstructed access roads, which delayed firefighting efforts. “The fire service struggled to reach the burning area because pavements and roadsides are rented out to vendors. This must change,” another trader emphasized.
While some traders suspect arson, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown, with investigations currently underway.
Alex King Nartey, Public Relations Officer for the GNFS, highlighted the challenges faced during such emergencies. “We need more efficient equipment to handle fires of this scale. This incident underscores the urgency of investing in fire service resources,” Nartey said in an interview with JoyNews.
Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), echoed these concerns, urging a detailed investigation into the incident.
“This is alarming, especially at the beginning of a new year. There’s a need for a forensic audit of market structures, electricity systems, and overall management. Market authorities must ensure proper monitoring and accountability for the taxes and levies they collect,” Dr. Obeng stated.
He also called for the introduction of modern facilities, education on safe electrical appliance use, and the implementation of insurance policies for traders to mitigate future risks.
Source: myjoyonline.com
