Only three months after a devastating fire destroyed Katamanto Market in Accra, the market has been fully rebuilt and is once again bustling with activity.
Yet, despite the rapid reconstruction, major safety issues persist.
An inspection of the market on Friday, April 11, showed that much of the electrical wiring in the new shops was installed without adequate oversight.
In several parts of the market, exposed and loosely hanging electrical cables were clearly visible, sparking concerns among traders about the risk of future accidents.
Even more alarming is the absence of an access road for fire tenders or emergency vehicles, severely hindering the ability of firefighters to respond swiftly in the event of another emergency.
On January 2, 2025, tragedy hit Katamanto Market when a massive fire tore through the busy commercial center, reducing almost everything to ashes and leaving hundreds of traders without their means of livelihood.
Remarkably, just a day after the blaze, market leaders sprang into action to start rebuilding—even as isolated flames still smoldered in some sections. Concerned that waiting for government aid might cost them their trading spots, the traders took it upon themselves to restore the market.
By early April, the market had made a strong structural comeback. However, many observers have noted that the rapid reconstruction seems to have favored speed at the expense of safety.
According to some traders, the hazardous electrical setup is partly due to a lack of electric poles within the market. This has led to makeshift and unsafe wiring connections, carried out without proper supervision from certified electricians or the Electricity Company of Ghana.
“The wires are just hanging everywhere. One spark, and we’ll be back to where we started,” a concerned trader remarked. Another added, “No one has come to inspect anything. We are working, but we’re scared.”
Traders also pointed out that officers from the Ghana National Fire Service seldom carry out routine inspections—an essential practice in a high-risk commercial area like Katamanto.
Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), voiced serious concern about the situation at Katamanto. He attributed the ongoing challenges to weak enforcement by regulatory authorities and poor urban planning in major markets across the country.
“What we see at Katamanto is the direct result of institutional failure,” Dr. Obeng stated. “There are laws, but they are not being enforced. That is why we keep seeing these preventable disasters.”
He emphasized the urgent need for a long-term solution to the congestion plaguing markets like Katamanto, saying, “We are looking forward to a time when government will take decisive action to decongest and properly plan our market spaces.”
Dr. Obeng also urged key state agencies—including the Ghana National Fire Service, the Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly—to take immediate and decisive steps to enforce safety regulations and prevent another tragedy.
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#KatamantoMarket #FireSafety #AccraMarkets #GUTA # #MarketReconstruction
