A major fire has reduced the busy Kantamanto market and hub of the informal economy in the Ghanaian capital Accra to rubble, officials said.
The fire, which broke out late Wednesday evening, destroyed large parts of the largest used clothing market in the West African country and displaced thousands of traders, disaster relief workers said. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) deployed 13 fire engines to extinguish the flames. But by Thursday morning, the ruins were smoldering where rows of bustling stalls once stood. Goods worth millions of the local cedi currency were destroyed, the GNFS said.
“This is devastating,” said Alex King Nartey, a GNFS spokesman. “We have not suffered any serious casualties, but the economic loss is enormous.”
“Preliminary investigations suggest that faulty electrical connections may have started the fire, although we do not rule out arson,” Nartey told AFP. He added that efforts to fully extinguish the fire could continue until Friday.
“Everything I own”
Hundreds of retailers, many of whom specialize in reselling used clothing, now face an uncertain future. For traders like 45-year-old Fred Asiedu, the fire is a life-changing disaster.
“Everything I own was here – my goods, my savings, my future. Now everything is gone,” said Asiedu. “How should I start over?” The government must intervene. Without help, life will be unbearable.” Adjoa Amu, a 39-year-old mother of three, described the fire as a devastating blow. “I have been selling here for twelve years. This market feeds my children and pays their school fees. Now all I have left is ashes,” Amu told AFP, also asking for government support for reconstruction.
Richard Amo Yartey, an official at the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), said investigations into the causes of the incident had been launched in collaboration with other agencies. “The extent of the destruction is heartbreaking, but we are committed to determining the cause and providing immediate assistance to the affected traders,” he said.
The President of Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), David Kwadwo Amoateng, urged the government to act quickly, adding that “the market is an important part of our economy. The traders here need emergency financing to get back on their feet. Without immediate intervention, thousands of livelihoods are at risk,” he told AFP.
Kantamanto Market, home to over 30,000 traders, has been a lifeline for many people in the Accra CBD.
The government has not yet announced an official response to the tragedy. (AFP)