Devastating Fire Ravages Ghana’s Largest Clothes Market, Leaving Thousands in Economic Ruin

A massive fire swept through the Kantamanto Market in the early hours of Thursday, January 2, destroying thousands of shops and goods worth millions of Ghanaian cedis.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said it dispatched 13 fire tenders to combat the inferno, which left much of the open-air market in ashes.

Initial investigations suggest faulty electrical connections may have sparked the fire, though arson has not been ruled out.

Kantamanto Market, a cornerstone of Accra’s informal economy and home to over 30,000 traders, now lies in ruins. Over 2,000 shops were destroyed, displacing thousands of traders who depend on the market for their livelihoods.

Many specialize in selling second-hand clothing, a major industry in Ghana that relies on weekly imports from Europe.

“This is devastating,” said Alex King Nartey, a GNFS spokesperson. While no severe casualties were reported, Nartey emphasized the enormous economic toll of the incident.

Traders Recount Loss

My shops burned, I feel empty, estimating the value of his losses at more than 10 times his annual income, Isaac Ofori told RFI.

Speaking to France24, Fred Asiedu, a shop owner said the fire is a life-altering disaster.

Everything I own was here — my wares, my savings, my future. Now, it’s all gone, Asiedu said. How do I start over? The government must step in. Without help, life will be unbearable.

I have been selling here for 12 years. This market feeds my children, pays their school fees. Now, I am left with nothing but ashes, Amu told AFP, also pleading for government support to rebuild.

As efforts to clean up the ruins in Kantamanto Market in Ghana continue, stakeholders and citizens are initiating donations to support the relief effort.

However, there are calls for sustainable solutions to curb such incidents. In a report titled “Africa’s open markets fires: Implication on retail trade and a call for sustainable solutions,” there are suggestions for strengthening and infrastructural improvement for African retail markets.

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