Kantamanto Market, Ghana’s largest hub for fairly used clothes in Accra, has been devastated by a fire, leaving thousands of traders displaced and goods worth millions of cedis destroyed.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, swept through the market, a lifeline for over 30,000 traders and countless customers in the Central Business District.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), 13 fire trucks were deployed to combat the inferno that reduced rows of stalls to smoldering ruins by Thursday morning. GNFS spokesperson Alex King Nartey described the economic loss as “enormous,” adding, “This is devastating. While we’ve not recorded severe casualties, the destruction is monumental.”
Preliminary investigations point to faulty electrical connections as a potential cause, though arson has not been ruled out. Efforts to completely extinguish the flames may extend into Friday, the GNFS noted.
Traders who relied on the market for their livelihoods are now grappling with uncertainty. Fred Asiedu, a 45-year-old trader, expressed his despair: “Everything I own was here—my wares, my savings, my future. Now, it’s all gone. How do I start over? The government must step in. Without help, life will be unbearable.”
Adjoa Amu, a mother of three, lamented the impact on her family: “I’ve been selling here for 12 years. This market feeds my children and pays their school fees. Now, I have nothing but ashes.” She urged the government to provide immediate assistance.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has commenced an investigation into the fire’s cause and pledged support for affected traders. “The scale of destruction is heart-wrenching, but we are committed to identifying the root cause and providing immediate relief,” said Richard Amo Yartey, a NADMO official.
David Kwadwo Amoateng, president of the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), stressed the urgency of government intervention. “The traders here need emergency funding to get back on their feet. Without immediate action, thousands of livelihoods are at risk,” he stated.
For the Kantamanto Market community, the loss is both financial and deeply personal, leaving them to face the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives from the ashes.
