In the wake of the devastating fire outbreaks which gutted Kantamanto and a couple of other markets nationwide, President John Mahama has pledged to improve the state of markets nationwide.
During an engagement with the leadership of traders at the Kantamanto market, the president said the renovations were a product of a campaign promise to renovate markets across the country.
“In our [NDC] manifesto, we have the Market Enhancement Program which is aimed at giving all markets a facelift so that people can be attracted to those places,” he told market leaders at a meeting in Accra.
The president said he had directed the Chief of Staff at the presidency, Julius Debrah, to continue interactions with the traders in order that both sides could arrive at how best the victims of the fire incident could be assisted by government.
He noted that the meeting with the Chief of Staff was also part of government’s immediate response to the tragedy, adding that it would assist the administration to come up with immediate interventions even as the government remained cognizant of a long-term plan.
It will be recalled that on January 2, 2025, fire gutted several shops and structures at Kantamanto causing significant damage.
Following the outbreak, many traders who own shops at the premises have disclosed losses worth several thousands of cedis.
So far, the market persons have received donations from a number of organizations and high-profile individuals including Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Leader of New Force, Nana Kwame Bediako.
Meanwhile, the Techiman Central Market was gutted by fire on Sunday, destroying several shops, leaving scores of traders in despair.
