Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has urged traders at Kantamanto market to put an end to unauthorized and illegal electrical connections, warning that such practices endanger not only businesses but also the lives of thousands of families who ply trade in the market.
Speaking at the official reopening of the market on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 which was gutted by fire in January 2025, she said every illegal connection poses a potential threat to lives and property, stressing that the time has come for traders to operate with discipline and responsibility.
Beyond the appeal for safety, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo outlined measures government has rolled out since the disaster.
These include a GHC1 million support package provided through the Chief of Staff to cushion affected traders, as well as directives to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to electrify the market.
She added that President John Dramani Mahama has invested GHC1 billion in equipping the Ghana National Fire Service and other security agencies to improve emergency preparedness.
The Deputy Chief of Staff also reminded traders to maintain sanitation and avoid building on drains, urging them to treat the market as their home and report wrongdoers to the authorities.
“Kantamanto is not just a market; it is the heartbeat of commerce in Accra and the lifeline of thousands of families,” she emphasized, commending traders for their resilience and determination to rebuild after the devastation.
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, expressed concern about waste management in the city, lamenting that about 70 percent of the Assembly’s revenue is spent on refuse collection.
He urged collaboration between city authorities and traders to make Kantamanto a market befitting its reputation.
Market Manager and General Secretary of Kantamanto Obroniwawu Businesses Association (KOBA), Adutwum Atta Manu, commended the OR Foundation for its role in establishing the market-wide association.
At the event, the foundation signed a grant agreement to provide $75,000 in startup funding to strengthen KOBA’s capacity.
He explained that KOBA is the first unified association for the entire Kantamanto Market, bringing together all 13 sections under one body to improve safety, cleanliness, and ensure that businesses operate with dignity and security.
