A massive fire burned Ghana's main second-hand clothing market in the capital Accra, affecting thousands of traders and causing huge losses to the local economy, officials said.
The fire, which broke out late Wednesday evening, ravaged large parts of the West African country's gigantic second-hand clothes market, the Kantamanto market, displacing thousands of traders, reported the country's authorities in charge of disaster management.
Kantamanto Thrift Market, home to over 30,000 traders and located in the heart of Accra's business district, is a crucial source of income for many. The disaster aroused great emotion among traders and local residents.
Hundreds of sellers, many of whom specialized in the resale of second-hand clothing imported from abroad and particularly from Europe, now face an uncertain future.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) had to deploy thirteen firefighting vehicles to combat the disaster.
On Thursday, smoking ruins as far as the eye could see had replaced the once bustling alleys of the market, testifying to the impressive devastation of the flames.
“It’s a disaster,” commented Alex King Nartey, spokesperson for the GNFS. “We have not recorded any serious injuries, but the loss to the economy is enormous.”
“According to the first elements of the investigation, an electrical fault could have caused the outbreak of the fire, but we do not exclude the possibility of arson,” he stressed to AFP.
According to the spokesperson, operations to completely extinguish the fire could continue until Friday.
According to the emergency services, the loss of goods is estimated at millions in the local currency.
The Ghanaian government has not yet announced a formal response to this tragedy.
– “All is lost” –
For traders like Fred Asiedu, 45, this fire is a disaster.
“Everything I owned was here – my goods, my savings, my future… Now everything is lost,” he laments. “How do I start my activity again? The government must intervene. Without help, our life will become unbearable.”
Same feeling of deep concern among Adjoa Amu, 39 years old and mother of three children. “I have been a seller here for twelve years. This market feeds my children, allows me to pay their school fees. And there, there is nothing left except ashes…” she says.
An official from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Richard Amo Yartey, said the investigation into the origins of the fire had begun.
“The scale of the destruction is heartbreaking, but we are determined to identify the causes and provide rapid assistance to affected traders,” he added.
For his part, the president of the Traders Association of Ghana (TAGG), David Kwadwo Amoateng, urged the government to act quickly, saying that “this market is a vital part of (our) economy”.
“Traders need an emergency aid fund to deal with this situation. Without immediate intervention, the source of income of thousands of people is threatened,” he told AFP.
