Bryan Acheampong announces GH¢500,000 in support for Kantamanto fire victims and pledges to rebuild Adum Market.
As part of a larger national call for safer, more modern market infrastructure, Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Abetifi, has promised to lead the effort to fully rebuild the fire-ravaged Adum Market in Kumasi and announced an additional GH¢500,000 in support for traders impacted by the recent Kantamanto Market fire in Accra.
Following a fire outbreak that devastated a significant portion of Adum Market, one of the busiest commercial centers in the Ashanti Region, the visit was held on Tuesday, April 22.
Traders were left without goods, money, or a space to conduct business as dozens of stores were reduced to ashes.
Dr. Acheampong gave GH¢300,000 in direct financial assistance to the impacted Adum traders together with current and previous members of parliament as well as national, regional, and constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In addition, he publicly pledged to spearhead the market’s reconstruction into a cutting-edge, secure, and resilient trading environment.
“Adum will rise again.” During a community talk, he stated, “This market must be rebuilt, not patched, and if given the opportunity, I will lead that process to make it safer, more modern and more dignified.”
In order to stop similar catastrophes in the future, he noted, the new market would have modern building materials, escape routes, controlled electrical infrastructure, and adequate fire safety systems.
A GH¢500,000 help package for traders impacted by the Kantamanto Market fire in Accra, which happened just days before the Adum disaster, was also announced by Dr. Acheampong while speaking to the gathering.
“Our traders are the backbone of Ghana’s economy. Whether in Kumasi or Accra, they deserve our protection. This support is just a start, but we must commit to long-term infrastructure reforms across the country,” he stated.
In the midst of a worrying trend of market fires, Dr. Acheampong’s two announcements place him among the few national leaders offering both emergency relief and a forward-looking infrastructure strategy.
Stakeholders and local officials praised the initiative, pointing out its importance outside of politics. Senior trader Nana Kwaku Asante of Adum said, “It’s been a long time since someone came not just to sympathise but with a plan. We need this reconstruction, not just donations.”
Market fires in recent years, like those at Makola, Kantamanto, and now Adum, have rekindled national conversations about poor electrical safety, crowded conditions, and antiquated market infrastructure.
Many experts feel that the cycle of devastation will continue unless significant expenditures are made in revamping these areas.
But for the impacted traders, Dr. Acheampong’s visit and his two promises represent more than just tangible assistance; they portend a new era in Ghana’s treatment of its marketplaces and the people who drive its market economy.
Source: newsthemegh.com