Fire outbreak: Kantamanto rises from ashes
The Kantamanto Market in Accra is slowly rising from the ashes after a recent fire outbreak that destroyed several stalls and left many traders devastated.
The disaster, which struck at dawn on Thursday, January 2, claimed one life, injured 14 people and left over 30,000 traders affected, with more than 7,000 shops reduced to ashes.
During a visit to the market by the Daily Graphic yesterday, the scene was one of resilience as traders, masons and carpenters worked tirelessly to reconstruct the damaged structures.
The rebuilding process is being carried out by both professionals and traders who are determined to restore their means of livelihood. Masons were seen laying bricks, while carpenters measured and hammered wood into place, creating the framework for new stalls.
The market, a bustling hub of commerce, now carries an air of determination mixed with grief as traders gather around the construction sites.
Many of the affected traders were visibly distressed, with sadness written all over their faces as they inspected the ongoing reconstruction.
While some sought solace in comforting one another, others appeared consumed by uncertainty over how they would finance their businesses.
In an unexpected twist, several traders mistook the Daily Graphic journalist for a representative from a financial institution.
Desperate for assistance, they approached him with enquiries as to how to obtain loans to restart their businesses.
This highlights the financial challenges many traders face in the aftermath of the fire, as they seek capital to rebuild and replenish their businesses.
Appeal
The Vice-Chairman of the Platform Association, Hayford Amoah, described the aftermath of the fire as “heartbreaking,” noting that many traders had lost not only their shops but also their homes.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, he said: “The only hope these traders have is to be allowed to return and work peacefully. Right now, we are focused on clearing debris and rebuilding but we need help.”
He appealed to the government and corporate entities to assist in rebuilding the market, emphasising the need for swift intervention to alleviate the traders’ plight.
Caution
While reconstruction efforts are underway, the Gbese Traditional Council (GTC) has cautioned against the reconstruction of wooden structures, stressing that unauthorised rebuilding would not be tolerated.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra at the weekend, the President of the GTC and Paramount Chief of the Gbese Traditional Area, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, revealed that the traditional council had plans to attract investors to help redevelop the market and expressed willingness to collaborate with the traders.
He reminded stakeholders that the land on which the market was located belonged to the Gbese Traditional Area.
He said the stool released the land to the Colonial Administration in 1875 and that they possessed all legal documents to prove its ownership.
“We sympathise with the victims of the recent fire outbreak, but let me caution that unauthorised reconstruction will not be allowed. The land has owners, and we will ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands,” he stated.
Dr Nii Ayi-Bonte II also announced that the GTC had constituted a task force to prevent the construction of unauthorised structures. “Anyone who has put up structures without our permission should pull them down, as the task force will ensure no illegal structures are erected,” he warned.
Meanwhile, three informal workers' associations have called on the current and incoming governments to implement an emergency support scheme to help traders affected by the recent Kantamanto Market fire outbreak.
A statement signed by the leaderships of the Greater Accra Markets Association (GAMA), the Union of Informal Workers Association of Ghana and the Informal Hawkers and Vendors Association of Ghana also called on civil society and religious organisations to offer support to ease the pain of the traders affected and ensure a sense of collective care during this critical period.
“We strongly believe that such a show of practical solidarity will help assuage the pain affected traders are going through now,” it said.
The statement said:” On behalf of its affiliates and members in different sectors of Ghana's informal economy, the association extends its deepest sympathies to our dear sisters and brothers, the entire trader population of Kantamanto who suffered losses in the raging fire that engulfed the Kantamanto Market on Wednesday, the 2nd day of January 2025.”
Investigations
The associations urged the National Security and the Ghana National Fire Service to expedite investigations to uncover the cause of the fire.
They however expressed concern about the repeated fires at Kantamanto Market and urged authorities to take steps to prevent future fires. “We believe that the knowledge of the cause will help find a long-term solution to this recurring problem,” the statement said.
The associations expressed their commitment to keep pushing for action from stakeholders until traders received the help they needed.