Richard Amo Yartey, Director of the Inspectorate at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has urged traders affected by the fire outbreak at Kantamanto to remain hopeful as the organisation works to assist them in rebuilding their lives.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the site on Thursday, Mr. Yartey expressed sympathy to the traders, emphasising the need for hope in these trying times.
“It’s quite unfortunate that this happened at a time when we should be celebrating the New Year, but this is not the end of life. We are doing our best to support those affected and ensure they get back on their feet,” he said.
The fire, which engulfed a large section of the Kantamanto Market on Wednesday evening, destroyed hundreds of shops and property worth millions of Ghana cedis, leaving the affected traders devastated.
Many traders were seen salvaging what they could from the debris, with some attributing the outbreak to suspected arson.
Mr. Yartey disclosed that NADMO had initiated steps to assess the extent of the damage and register the affected persons to determine their individual needs.
He assured traders of transparency in the process, noting that the leadership of the market’s Traders Association was involved.
“We are setting up a desk for registration and assessment. Once we gather all the necessary information, we will develop an action plan to help them recover. While it’s difficult to provide timelines, we have already started work,” he added.
At the market, some traders were seen trying to extinguish pockets of flames that continued to smolder, while others counted their losses.
Mr. Kwabena Charles, a dealer in second-hand shoes, described the ordeal he faced after learning about the fire.
“I was home in Abeka when one of my workers called and told me to come to the market quickly. By the time I arrived at 3:00 a.m., everything had been burnt.”
“We tried to save what we could, but it was impossible. I’ve lost goods worth nearly 500 million Ghana cedis. The fire service didn’t do anything to help; don’t even mention them,” he said angrily.
The traders, many of whom have lost their entire capital, are appealing to the government and benevolent organisations for support to rebuild their businesses.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the inferno, NADMO has called for calm and pledged to ensure that help reaches those in need.
Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Fire outbreaks at the Kantamanto market have become an annual ritual.
Copyright © 1994 - 2025 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
