Over 40 shops have been destroyed at the Kwadaso market in the Ashanti region after a devastating fire outbreak in the early hours of Thursday, August 1, 2024
The traders at the M line of the market decry the loss of millions of cedis to the inferno as the shops, together with their contents, including fabrics, footwear, frozen foods, plantain, yam, and others, have been destroyed.
They lament that they will be unable to continue with their activities, which is their only source of livelihood.
Sharing their concerns with Citi News, some of the traders said, “All our plantain have been burnt, we are at a great loss, GHC4,000 to GHC5,000 plantain all destroyed. We bought the plantain on credit and we have to pay, we don’t know how to go about it. Those who gave us the plantain on credit will definitely come after us, they wouldn’t care. We really need help, myself and my colleagues. I’m 62 years old, this is the only business I can do, I don’t have the energy to do any other business.”
Another trader, Adwoa Connie lamented, “I sell fabrics, shoes, hair scarves and other kinds of stuff. I took a loan, I had a call that all my fabrics were destroyed, and I’m appealing to the government to come to my aid so that I can restart the business, I’m 71 years old and my kids are in school, there is no help anywhere.
“This is the only job I can do. I got new stock just Wednesday and everything is gone. I have kids too, the money lost could be over a million cedis. I’m pleading with the government to come to my aid.”
In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Fire Service, he indicated that the blaze was controlled after two fire appliances, a fire tender, and a water tanker were deployed to the scene.
He lamented that access to the market was challenging because of some obstructions and blockages at the market entrance and the road leading to the fire scene, causing a delay in response.
He, however, mentioned that investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.
“The fire affected 40 stalls and their contents, which include frozen foods, provisions and other stuff. There were no casualties. When we got there, the fire was well alight. The entrance of the market had some obstructions around it, so the doors could not open fully, and the gate not open fully. Access to the scene of the fire was a challenge because there were a lot of obstructions on the road, which also affected our response.”
