The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has visited the Kumasi Central Market following a recent fire outbreak that destroyed property and raised concerns about the livelihoods of traders.
The visit, which took place two days after the incident, was aimed at gathering first-hand information about the fire disaster, assessing the extent of the damage and understanding the challenges facing traders affected by the blaze.
During the visit, the minister had the opportunity to observe the situation on the ground and evaluate the impact of the incident on businesses and the livelihoods of market women and other traders who depend on the Kumasi Central Market for their income.
Mahama Ayariga expressed sympathy for all traders and individuals affected by the unfortunate incident, acknowledging the difficulties they may face in recovering from the losses suffered.
He also expressed hope that the necessary measures would be implemented to provide assistance to affected traders and help them restore their businesses.
The minister further stressed the importance of strengthening fire prevention measures and improving safety arrangements in markets to reduce the risk of similar fire outbreaks in the future.
The latest incident has once again highlighted concerns about fire safety in Ghanaian markets, where traders face the risk of losing goods, property and their sources of livelihood whenever such disasters occur.
Stakeholders are expected to consider appropriate interventions to support affected businesses while reinforcing measures to improve market safety and prevent future fire disasters.
The Kumasi Central Market remains one of the major commercial centres in the Ashanti Region, making the recovery of affected traders important to local economic activities and livelihoods.
Source: newsthemegh.com