A devastating fire swept through the Kantamanto Market in Accra in the early hours of January 2, 2025, leaving traders in despair as they counted their losses.
The market, known for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse range of goods, was reduced to ashes in a matter of hours.
The scene was one of heartbreak and chaos, with traders sifting through the charred remains of their stalls, hoping to salvage anything of value. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and the sound of sobs as the reality of the disaster set in.
Among the affected traders was Ama Mensah, a clothing vendor who had been a fixture at the market for over a decade. “I have lost everything,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “All my goods, my savings, everything is gone. I don’t know how I will recover from this.”
Isabella Apoe, a cold store operator, also lost millions to the fire. “I have lost everything,” she said, gathering the remains of her burnt shop. “I don’t know how I will start again.”
The fire, which started in the early hours of Thursday morning, quickly spread through the market, fueled by the flammable materials used to construct the stalls. Despite the efforts of the fire service, the blaze proved too intense to control, and by the time it was extinguished, much of the market had been destroyed.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, but for the traders, the focus is on rebuilding their lives and businesses. Many have called for government assistance to help them get back on their feet, while others have turned to their communities for support.
“I have lost everything,” said Joshua Tetteh, another trader. “Attempts to rescue some of my goods proved futile. I didn’t get one pesewa from here. I collected a loan to do this business. We will rise from these ashes. It’s not easy, my wife also sells ladies’ clothing – she has lost everything.”
Samuel Ahenkorah, a trader who owns two shops, part of which were burnt by the fire, narrated his losses. “I have lost so much goods, why are people so wicked? I deal in jeans for both adults and children. I have lost everything out of my two shops. I have lost so much money. One bail of goods costs GHC5,500 – it’s not easy at all, this is so devastating.”
Adutwum Atta Manu, Market Manager of Kantamanto Market, confirmed that the firefighters had been able to contain the fire. “Around 1 am, I had a phone call that there was a fire in Kantamanto. We rushed to the place, and when we came, the fire had started. So, what we could do was that we decided to quench the fire ourselves, but because of the intensity, we couldn’t fight it. We called the firefighters, so they also came with their tenders and did what they could to contain the fire.”
Source: OccupyGh.com
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