DEVASTATING FIRE RAZES KANTAMANTO MARKET IN ACCRA

A massive fire swept through Kantamanto Market in Accra’s Central Business District in the early hours of Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. The inferno, which started around 1:00 AM, destroyed over 100 shops and displaced hundreds of traders, many of whom have lost their livelihoods.

Despite the efforts of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the fire spread rapidly across the market, fueled by strong winds and the largely wooden structure of the market stalls. The GNFS deployed 13 fire trucks from various stations across the city to fight the blaze, but their efforts were hindered by the lack of a fire hydrant and depletion of their water supply.

“It’s a very serious situation,” said ADO1 Alex King Nartey, spokesperson for the GNFS. “We’re doing our best to bring the fire under control, but it’s a challenging task. We’re estimating that it may take up to two days to fully extinguish the fire.”

Fortunately, there have been no reports of severe casualties so far, although several traders were treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. However, the traders have raised suspicions of foul play, suggesting that the fire may have been intentionally set.

“We’re not ruling out any possibilities,” said Nartey. “We’ll be conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire.”

The affected traders are urgently calling for support to rebuild their businesses and prevent such tragedies in the future. Many have lost their entire stock and livelihoods, and are struggling to come to terms with the scale of the destruction.

“This is a disaster,” said Ama Owusu, a trader who lost her shop in the fire. “We need help to rebuild our businesses and get back on our feet. We can’t do it alone.”

The incident has reignited concerns about the recurring fires at Kantamanto Market and emphasized the need for improved safety measures and infrastructure to protect the livelihoods of traders and the surrounding community.

In the meantime, the Ghana National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has deployed a team to the market to provide assistance to the affected traders. The organization has also promised to provide temporary shelter and relief items to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the people of Accra are coming together to support the affected traders and rebuild the market. It’s a long and difficult road ahead, but with the resilience and determination of the Ghanaian people, Kantamanto Market will rise again.