The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has urged the Kantamanto market authorities to reconstruct the market into a modern standard market and move away from wawa boards and plywood.
According to the Greater Accra Regional Commander, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, the Kantamanto market needs to be constructed with fire-resistant materials and not wooden structures.
He revealed the market must be reconstructed to have smoke detectors, heat detectors, and flame detectors.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu noted, “They have reconstructed the market and I am on record saying that until we try and dedicate these markets and say these markets should be reconstructed to modern standards where we can get smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors, using fire-resistant materials to construct, get to know that this a market.
We open the market at 6 O’clock we close it at six in the evening that people will not use the market as a dwelling place we will continue to have challenges”.
He further added, “So my advice is that they should try as much as possible and reconstruct the market to befit modern standards and let’s move away from these wooden structures that we use wawa boards and plywood and other things.”
Meanwhile, the Gbese Stool, led by Paramount Chief Nii Ayi Bonte II, has issued a warning to individuals against erecting wooden structures on the Kantamanto lands, stressing that the property is not government-owned.
In a press conference, Nii Ayi Bonte II reaffirmed the Gbese Stool’s ownership of the land and revealed plans to collaborate with investors for its development, aiming to unlock its full potential.
While extending sympathy to those affected by the recent fire in the area, the chief made it clear that unauthorized rebuilding would not be permitted.
“The land has an owner, so no one should take the law into their hands and build any wooden structures. We will not accept this attitude again. That is why we are having this press conference to inform everyone that we are bringing in investors from April to change the place,” he said.
Fire erupted in the Kantamanto market area during the early hours of January 2, 2025.
The Minority caucus in parliament was the latest to donate to the Kantamanto market. The minority led by Afenyo Markin donated GHS200,000 as part of relief measures for victims of the Kantamanto Market fire outbreak.
During a visit to the market in Accra on Tuesday, April 15, the Minority Caucus, led by its leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, called on the government to access funds from the Contingency Fund to provide additional support to affected traders.
