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The Government has supported the Kantamanto Market Fire Disaster Victims with one million Ghana cedis. The Kantamanto Market was ravaged by fire on January 2, which destroyed more than 7,000 shops and other facilities.
The support from Government to the affected traders, follows an earlier pledge by President John Dramani Mahama, during an interaction with the Kantamanto Traders Association, comprising 13 different groups at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on January 13. Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, who made the presentation on behalf of the President, expressed the Government’s readiness to facilitate plans to rebuild the market into a multi-purpose modern facility to enhance businesses of used clothes dealers and other traders.
“There is hope. The President was elected to solve problems, and he is ready to help devoid of politics,” he stated. The Chief of Staff also expressed the Government’s sympathy, especially in these difficult times for the heavy losses. He reiterated the need for the traders to open up for dialogue on plans to redesign the enclave, open up access for rapid response with adequate security to prevent another major disaster.
Reverend Opoku Afreh, the Chairman of the Kantamanto Traders Association, on behalf of the over 13 groups, whose leadership was present thanked the President for the support. He said over half of the Kantamanto was totally razed down including millions of cedis in sales made yet to be deposited at the banks.
“One wholesale, which has never been torched and bales of clothes worth $1.7 million was totally destroyed” he added. Rev Opoku disclosed that they had negotiated a deal with Access Bank, which was ready to advance a loan of $100 million to build a modern market. He, however, called for the Government’s intervention to address a dispute over the affected land.
Present were Mr Stanislav Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff in-charge of Operations, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff in-charge of Administration, Mrs Marietta Brew Oppong, the Legal Advisor to the President and some other Presidential Staffers.
Source: GNA
