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NDC Delegation Visits Fire-Ravaged Kantamanto Market, Pledges Support To Affected Traders

  • Jan 4, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jan 14, 2025

A group of National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament, led by Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye of Odododiodioo, recently visited Accra's Kantamanto Market to show solidarity with traders impacted by a devastating fire. The blaze, which broke out in the early hours of January 2, 2025, caused significant destruction, obliterating goods worth thousands of cedis and displacing numerous vendors, many of whom deal in second-hand clothing.


A group of National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament
A group of National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament

The delegation included Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare (Techiman North), Hon. Rita Odoley Sowah (La Dadekotopon), and Hon. Sampson Chiragia (Navrongo Central). They conveyed heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the NDC, including President-elect H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President-elect. Addressing the affected traders, Hon. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye emphasized the incoming administration's commitment to tackling the frequent fire outbreaks in markets. He reaffirmed the NDC’s plan to modernize markets nationwide, aiming to enhance safety and create more conducive environments for trade.


Market executives expressed their gratitude for the visit and pledged their cooperation with government initiatives aimed at alleviating their suffering. The Kantamanto Market fire has highlighted the vulnerabilities of market spaces in Ghana, prompting calls for comprehensive solutions to prevent future disasters.


As victims begin to assess their losses, there is hope that the assurances provided by the NDC will translate into tangible actions under the forthcoming administration. Traders and their families continue to appeal for support from the public and other stakeholders to rebuild their livelihoods.


In the wake of the disaster, various organizations and individuals have stepped forward to assist. The OR Foundation, a nonprofit that works with vendors in Kantamanto, has committed to donating $1 million to the relief effort and has set up a fund for additional donations. Business mogul and presidential aspirant Nana Kwame Bediako has also donated GH¢50,000 to support the affected traders.


The Kantamanto Market, known as one of the world's largest secondhand clothing markets, plays a crucial role in Ghana's informal economy. The recent fire has not only impacted the livelihoods of thousands of traders but has also drawn attention to the need for improved infrastructure and safety measures in such markets to prevent future tragedies.


As the community rallies together to rebuild, there is a collective call for both immediate relief and long-term strategies to ensure the safety and sustainability of market spaces across the country. The NDC's commitment to modernizing markets is seen as a positive step towards achieving these goals, and traders are hopeful that these promises will lead to concrete actions in the near future.


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