Katamanto Market rebuilt within 3 months after devastating fire amid safety concerns 

Just three months after a massive fire razed the Katamanto Market in Accra, the market has been completely rebuilt and is back in full operation.

However, despite the swift reconstruction, significant safety concerns remain unaddressed.

A visit to the market on Friday, April 11, revealed that electrical wiring in many of the newly constructed shops has been done without proper supervision.

Exposed and loosely hanging electrical cables were visible in several areas, raising fears among traders about potential future hazards.
Worse still, there is currently no access road for fire tenders or emergency vehicles, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to respond quickly in case of another emergency.

On January 2, 2025, disaster struck Katamanto Market when fire swept through the bustling commercial hub, destroying nearly everything in its path. The incident left hundreds of traders without their sources of livelihoods.

But just a day after the tragedy, market leaders mobilized to begin reconstruction, even while small pockets of fire continued to burn in parts of the area. Traders, fearing they could permanently lose their space if they waited on government support, took matters into their own hands.

By early April, the market had bounced back, at least structurally. However, as many have pointed out, the reconstruction appears to have prioritized speed over safety.

Some traders blame the risky electrical setup on a shortage of electric poles within the market. As a result, wires are being connected in makeshift and unsafe ways, with no clear oversight 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,” one worried trader said. “No one has come to inspect anything. We are working, but we’re scared,” another trader added.

Additionally, traders say officers from the Ghana National Fire Service rarely conduct periodic checks, a critical requirement in a high-risk commercial space like Katamanto.

The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, expressed deep concern over the situation. He attributed the issues to a lack of enforcement by regulatory bodies and poor urban planning in major markets across the country.

“What we see at Katamanto is the direct result of institutional failure,” Dr. Obeng said. “There are laws, but they are not being enforced. That is why we keep seeing these preventable disasters.”

He further stressed the need for a comprehensive solution to congestion in markets like Katamanto.

“We are looking forward to a time when government will take decisive action to decongest and properly plan our market spaces,” he added.

Dr. Obeng called on state agencies including the Ghana National Fire Service, the Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to act decisively and enforce safety regulations before another disaster occurs.

Until then, while the traders of Katamanto may be back to business, they do so under a cloud of uncertainty fearful that the next spark could lead to another catastrophe.

The post Katamanto Market rebuilt within 3 months after devastating fire amid safety concerns  first appeared on 3News.

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