A tragic fire swept through the Kantamanto Market in Accra’s Central Business District of the Greater Accra Region(GAR) at dawn on Thursday, January 2, leaving one person dead and 14 others with severe injuries.

The inferno, which destroyed more than 7,000 shops and affected over 30,000 traders, has left the market in ruins.

Traders lost significant amounts of goods, with many also losing their homes and primary sources of income.

Efforts to extinguish the blaze were hindered by water shortages and logistical difficulties, exacerbating the damage.

Samuel Amoah, Chairman of the Kantamanto Traders Association, described the situation as heartbreaking.

He emphasized the dire need for traders to recover their livelihoods and appealed to the government for support.

“Many of us have lost everything—our homes and our businesses. We are appealing to both the outgoing and incoming governments to assist in rebuilding the market so we can work peacefully,” Mr. Amoah said.

Traders have begun clearing debris and organizing themselves to reconstruct the market.

While hopeful for government assistance, they are determined to restore their stalls and sheds independently if necessary.

Mr. Amoah also raised concerns about the market's safety, urging the government to remove individuals who sleep within the premises, citing them as potential risks.

He further suggested that the fire might have been a deliberate act based on information he had received, calling for thorough investigations into the incident.

Mr Amoah spoke in a n interview with Accra-based JoyNews on Friday, January 3.