Govt provides GH¢2m for 4,500 fire victims

Four thousand five hundred traders whose shops were gutted by fire in Accra and Kumasi are to benefit from a GH¢2 million government grant.

Three thousand of the affected traders are in the Kantamanto, Makola Number One and Makola Number Two markets in Accra, while 1,500 are in the Kumasi Central Market.

Briefing journalists on the arrangement at the Flagstaff House in Accra, a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, said a committee had been set up at the

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to screen the victims and categorise them,  based on their needs.

"A scientific process has been put in place to validate the number," he said.

The whole of the Kantamanto Market and parts of the Makola Number One and Makola Number Two markets in Accra were burnt down recently. Parts of the Kumasi Central Market were also gutted by fire recently.

Following the rampant fire outbreaks, President John Dramani Mahama directed the security agencies to commence investigations into the fire outbreaks, and a preliminary report had since been presented to the government.

American investigators, who were in the country to support the investigation, have completed their work and are in the process of compiling their report.

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To mitigate the effect of the fire on the affected traders, President Mahama directed that a GH¢2 million fund be established to assist victims of the recent market fires in Accra and Kumasi.

The deputy minister said the money was ready, and indicated that the government would start disbursing it as soon as the screening and categorisation were over.

He said the money would be paid to the traders through the banks.

Mr Ofosu Kwakye commended the security officers who foiled the attempt to burn the Tema Community One Market last Tuesday, and stated that it was part of the larger effort to ensure that the markets were safe.

He said the government would continue to encourage the security agencies to continue to ensure security in the markets.

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru / Daily Graphic / Ghana