Minister for Trades and Industry, Alan Kyerematen has expressed government’s support to traders who lost their shops to the recent fire outbreak at the Makola market. According to him, the Ghana Enterprises Agency have been instructed to give compensation packages to these traders.

Describing the situation as “unfortunate”, Mr Kyerematen further bemoaned their plight already exacerbated by the pandemic.

His comments follow a day after fire ravaged some shops in a three storey-building at the Makola market.

“We are here first to sympathise with the victims of this fire incident. This is the worse time for this to have happened; particularly when our small businesses are just about recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, it’s very unfortunate that this will happen at this time. But be that as it may, we thank God that through the heroic efforts of the Ghana Fire Service, that for now they’ve been able to contain the fire.

“If this had spread to other buildings, I’m sure that the devastation would have been more serious. I’m here also to sympathise with the victims and also assure them that government is committed and fully behind them. We are going to take all the necessary steps to ensure that we support them to get them back into their trade. So, I’ve instructed the Ghana Enterprises Agency to very quickly develop a package of support for the victims of this fire incident”.

Relook retail sector infrastructure

Additionally, the Trades Minister advised a more critical look at the retail business sector due to the rampant fire incidents recorded in the country.

“Once we are able to identify the cause of this fire incident, we have as a country to reflect very soberly on our domestic retail market infrastructure. You know this is not the first time that we’ve gone through this incident. Already, government has commissioned and investigation and exercise and to try and find a permanent solution to it. So, I’d like first to ensure the victims that we are not going to leave them behind”.

On his part, the President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, iterated his worry over the rampant fire outbreak in the markets.

He further called for the various reports that “have been gathered from the forensic auditing” undertaking in the past. He cited the Kejetia and Kantamanto market fire outbreaks to buttress his point on the need for a resolution to the matter.

“A committee should be set so that we can proffer solutions to this permanently because this shouldn’t reoccur. It’s getting so worrying and we keep on consuming the little capital that we have.

“The fact that National Insurance Commission is not coming up with a suitable program for the informal sector. They are shying away from insuring people in this area because of the risk factors and inaccessibility to these places. So, when their risk teams come, they normally put a high premium where the locals cannot afford”.