A terrible fire has ravaged parts of the Kwadaso market in the Ashanti region, destroying over 40 stores and their contents.
The fire started in the early hours of Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The traders on the M line of the market lament the loss of millions of cedis due to the fire, which has burned the shops and their contents, which include fabrics, footwear, frozen meals, plantain, yam and other items.
They lament that they would be unable to continue their activities, which are their sole source of income.
Some traders expressed their concerns to Citi News, saying, ”
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 planatian 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 Ashanti Regional Fire Service’s Public Relations Officer, he stated that the fire was extinguished after two fire engines, a fire tender, and a water tanker arrived on the scene.
He complained that getting to the market was difficult due to certain barriers and blocks at the market entrance and the road leading to the fire scene, which caused a delay in response.
He did, however, indicate that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“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. As I indicated initially, it 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.”
