The Kantamanto market in Accra, the nerve center of the Ghanaian economy, was ravaged by a devastating fire. Thousands of traders find themselves destitute.
An unprecedented disaster has struck the economic heart of Accra. The Kantamanto market, emblem of the local economy and pillar of the resale of second-hand clothing, was ravaged by a devastating fire on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. This tragedy, the causes of which remain uncertain, plunges thousands of traders into uncertainty, destroying not only goods, but also means of subsistence.
An emblematic place reduced to nothing
Located in the heart of Accra’s business district, Kantamanto Market is a hotspot in the Ghanaian economy. More than 30,000 traders earned their living there, notably through the sale of imported second-hand clothing. Today, this place, once bustling with activity, is nothing more than a field of smoking ruins, testifying to the extent of the damage caused by the flames.
Thirteen fire trucks were needed to bring the fire under control, mobilizing significant resources from the National Fire Fighting Service (GNFS). Fortunately, no serious human losses were reported. However, the economic losses, estimated at millions of cedis, are considerable. For traders like Fred Asiedu, 45, it is a real tragedy.
Investigation and questions on the origin of the tragedy
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. The first elements suggest an electrical fault, but the possibility of a criminal act has not been ruled out. Richard Amo Yartey, of the National Disaster Management Organization, assured that the investigation will move forward quickly to elucidate the causes and organize emergency aid for the affected traders.
Faced with this catastrophe, voices are being raised to call on the Ghanaian government to act quickly. For sellers like Adjoa Amu, a mother of three, the future remains uncertain. This market represented a vital source of income for her and many others, now reduced to ashes.
