A fire broke out at Accra’s Kantamanto Market in the early hours of Thursday, destroying over 100 shops and leaving traders counting heavy losses.
The fire, which started around 1:00 a.m., prompted a large-scale response from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). Initially, five fire tenders were dispatched from Makola, the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters, National Headquarters, Flagstaff House, and Parliament House to combat the inferno.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) was quickly called upon to cut power supply to the area, ensuring the safety of the operation.
As the fire proved more intense than anticipated, additional support was deployed. Fire tenders from Circle, Trade Fair, and Dansoman arrived within the first hour, increasing the total to eight. Later, tenders from Abelenkpe, Kasapreko, Tema Regional Headquarters, Madina, and Legon joined the effort, bringing the total to 13 fire appliances on-site.
Despite the massive deployment of resources, firefighters were still battling the blaze after five hours. By 6:00 a.m., personnel remained on the scene, working tirelessly to extinguish the flames and prevent further damage.
The GNFS has yet to confirm the cause of the fire, but investigations are expected to commence once the area is secured. This incident marks another significant loss for traders in the Kantamanto Market, which has been prone to similar disasters in the past.
