Kantamanto Fire: Our doors are open for support to rebuild market

Mr. Adjei Mensah, Chairman of the All Traders Association at Kantamanto, has appealed for support to rebuild the Kantamanto Market in Accra.

“Our doors are open for support to rebuild our market and restore livelihoods. We’ve received no support yet and are appealing to benevolent organisations and individuals to come to our aid,” he said.

His appeal follows a devastating fire outbreak on Wednesday night, which consumed large sections of the Kantamanto market.

The fire caused significant losses for traders, some of whom lost dozens of bales of second-hand clothes and other goods running into millions of Ghana cedis.

The fire has reignited suspicions, with many traders calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Mr. Mensah assured traders that the leadership was working tirelessly to restore their livelihoods but emphasised that external support was crucial to rebuilding and restructuring the iconic trading hub.

According to him, the scale of the destruction was unprecedented, with goods and cash belonging to hundreds of traders destroyed.

“When I got here at 0300 hours, the entire Kantamanto market was on fire. This fire spread beyond the market square, affecting nearby shops and causing extensive damage,” he recounted.

He described the incident as unusual compared to previous market fires, stating, “Normally, we’re able to contain fires when they break out in one section, but this one was out of hand from the start.”

Mr. Mensah alleged that rumours of a planned arson had circulated prior to the recent elections, prompting market leaders to raise concerns with the police.

“We heard rumours before the elections that this market would be set ablaze. We reported it to the police and were assured the market would be protected,” he said.

Mr. Mensah revealed that he personally lost seven bales worth GHC 7,000 each, which he had stocked for the Christmas and New Year sale.

“Others lost as many as 50 bales. It’s dicult to calculate the total losses, but the impact is severe,” he said.

Adding to the traders’ plight, thieves reportedly exploited the chaos to steal goods, compounding their losses and misery.

“This is a terrible thing that has happened to us.” Mr. Mensah lamented.

Despite the devastation, the traders have demonstrated remarkable resilience, taking it upon themselves to begin rebuilding the market.

During a visit by the Ghana News Agency, scores of traders were seen working tirelessly with pickaxes and other tools, digging holes, and demarcating their former stalls.

“No one will lose their stalls.” Mr. Mensah assured. “Everyone knows where they used to sell, and that’s why you see them marking their spaces. We are determined to hold Kantamanto down; it’s the only property we have.”

He added that the market leadership was collaborating with plywood sellers to secure materials for reconstruction.

“We are planning to restructure the market, and the leaders are actively working to ensure that everyone gets their space back and restore livelihoods,” he said.

Mr. Mensah encouraged traders to remain calm and united as they worked toward recovery.

The Ghana National Fire Service has yet to release an official report on the cause of the fire, but market leaders are conducting their own inquiries.

The traders are appealing to the public to lend their support in any way possible to help restore Kantamanto’s vibrancy.