I’ve lost all investments – trader cries as NAPO consoles Kumasi Central Market fire victims

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims of Friday night’s fire outbreak at the Kumasi Central Market, which affected a greater part of the facility.

The MP who toured the affected area, located within the Manhyia South constituency, described the incident as unfortunate and charged the relevant authorities to forestall the occurrence of such disasters.

He bemoaned the frequency of fire outbreaks, especially occurring in markets in the country in recent times, adding that government’s commitment to redevelop the Kumasi Central Market will help minimise the situation.

“Very soon the President will break grounds for the project. But for now the KMA and the NADMO will be here to assess the situation. We will also be giving you the needed support going forward. The project when constructed will minimize the incessant fire outbreak in this enclave”, Dr Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called NAPO, said.

He said aside the major role entrepreneurs in such commercial markets played in the growth of the economy of the country, they were also the major bread winners of their various families and that when such disasters occurred, they tended to have serious repercussions on both the economy and families.

Traders count loss

The Friday evening fire outbreak saw many containers and other properties destroyed.

Dealers in second hand clothing were the worst affected.

Some of the affected victims were seen counting their losses at the time our correspondent visited the scene Saturday morning.

“I have lost all my properties. I don’t know what to do. I am pleading on authorities to come to our aid”, a sorrowful trader told Daily Mail GH correspondent.

Another said, “This is not the first time we have witnessed this incident here. I have lost all my investment. I want to even end this business”.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were at the scene to assess the situation.

Fire officials and the police have since commenced a joint investigation into the incident.

Parliament approves €93m for Kumasi Central Market

In 2018, Parliament approved a €93 million loan facility for the redevelopment and modernisation of the Kumasi Central Market.

A facility agreement of €81 million and tied commercial facility of €12.3 million are between the government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Finance, and the Deutsche Bank AG, London branch, and its affiliates.

The approval of the facilities followed the presentation of the report of the Finance Committee of Parliament, which recommended to the House to approve the facilities.

President Akufo-Addo is expected to break grounds for the commencement of the project later this year.

Source: Daily Mail GH