Fire Destroys Ghana’s Largest Fairly Used Clothes Market, Displaces Thousands of Traders

A devastating fire has gutted Kantamanto Market, Ghana’s largest hub for fairly used clothes, located in the heart of Accra. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has left thousands of traders displaced and destroyed goods worth millions of cedis.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported that 13 fire trucks were deployed to battle the raging inferno, which reduced the bustling market to ashes. By Thursday morning, the once-lively rows of stalls had been reduced to smoldering ruins.

GNFS spokesperson Alex King Nartey described the incident as catastrophic. “While we’ve not recorded severe casualties, the economic loss is enormous,” he stated. Preliminary investigations suggest that faulty electrical connections may have caused the fire, although arson has not been ruled out. Efforts to fully extinguish the flames are expected to continue into Friday.

Traders Face Uncertain Futures

For the more than 30,000 traders who depended on the market, the destruction is life-altering. Many of them specialized in the resale of used clothing and are now grappling with an uncertain future.

Fred Asiedu, a 45-year-old trader, shared his anguish: “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.”

Similarly, Adjoa Amu, a mother of three who had been selling at the market for 12 years, expressed her despair. “This market feeds my children and pays their school fees. Now, I have nothing but ashes,” she lamented, urging the government to provide immediate support.

Calls for Government Intervention

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire in collaboration with other agencies. NADMO official Richard Amo Yartey promised swift action: “The scale of destruction is heart-wrenching, but we are committed to identifying the root cause and providing immediate relief to affected traders.”

David Kwadwo Amoateng, president of the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), called on the government to act urgently, emphasizing the market’s economic importance. “The traders here need emergency funding to get back on their feet. Without immediate intervention, thousands of livelihoods are at risk,” he said.

A Community in Ruins

Kantamanto Market has long been a vital part of Accra’s Central Business District, serving as a lifeline for thousands of traders and customers. Its loss is not just financial but deeply personal, leaving an entire community to rebuild from the ashes.

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