Kantamanto traders take steps to safeguard market

The Kantamanto Obroniwaawu Businesses Association (KOBA) has implemented some radical measures to prevent the frequent fire outbreaks in the market.

The measures were implemented following the fire outbreak on January 2, 2025, which destroyed several items and property worth millions of cedis.

The measures included training 60 security guards to oversee the market and introducing standardised wiring and electric meters for all shops and sheds.

The security guards are also tasked with preventing people from sleeping in the market, as was previously the case. 

This became apparent when The Mirror visited the Kantamanto Market in Accra last Wednesday to assess the current situation after the last fire outbreak and to see whether the numerous promises and assurances made by state agencies, individuals and organisations had been fulfilled. 

Electricity

The General Secretary of KOBA, Mr Adutwum Atta-Manu, who briefed The Mirror, stated that wiring at the market has not been uniform or up to standard, with many traders also tapping electricity from different sources.

That practice, he said, was risky and easily caused a fire.

“Now we are installing an independent transformer, solely for the market, and with the wiring we have done, it will be very difficult for a fire incident to recur,” he assured. He also commended the Or Foundation Ghana, a nongovernmental organisation, for their support with wiring the market.

Responding to a question on why they quickly rebuilt the market with wooden structures, which was against recommendations by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) not to rebuild with wood, Mr Atta-Manu said that the current wooden structures were temporary.

He said they had to hurriedly erect the structures due to threats from certain Ga traditional leaders to seize the land.

Recommendations

He indicated that the association had plans to follow the recommendations of the GNFS, which he said included drilling a borehole, providing fire hydrants, and creating pathways for easier access through the market.

The Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, who also addressed the issue of fire outbreaks in markets, particularly at Kantamanto Market, emphasised the importance of installing a borehole and fire hydrants at the market.

He called for the demarcation of pathways to improve accessibility and advised KOBA to use fire-resistant materials for the structures instead of wood.

The commander warned against cooking in the market and urged food vendors to do so outside the market, then bring the food in to sell.

He expressed grave concern about the attitude of some traders, who he said kept flouting fire safety rules, including those who continued to cook in the market, and questioned why they keep acting against the advice given by the GNFS.

Concerns

Mr Atta-Manu acknowledged the concerns of the GNFS and admitted to receiving a copy of the fire reports from the GNFS.

He, however, said the recommendations were long-term and assured that they would be implemented.

He said it had been difficult to construct the borehole and fire hydrants because they would occupy spaces of some shop owners.

He said that although the leadership of the market had engaged the GNFS after the fire incident, the difficulty had been deciding whose shop to demolish to make way for the drilling of the borehole and fire hydrant.

Writer’s email address: lydiaezit@gmail.com