Fire at Ghana’s largest market for imported clothes and fashion accessories is affecting the industry across the country.

Although almost an annual occurrence, the new year fire consumed the entire market, and, being the source of supply for most traders in a population largely dependent on used clothing, the disaster is expected to have a lasting impact.

The Ghana News Agency in an interview with dealers in second hand clothes at the Ho Central Market, some who had been forced to close their shops, said the impact had been brutal on their businesses.

The extent of this year’s fire affected traders in bags and other fashion accessories as well.

Charles Acquah, who has been in the used clothes trade for the past 17 years, appealed to the government and traditional authorities to consider the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the Kantamanto market and ensure its restoration.

“It will affect us gravely if the market is not restored in time because that is where we all get our monies to feed our families, and so if we don’t get goods from there it will affect us.

“We’ve heard that the traditional ruler says the market must not be rebuilt, and so we are appealing to the government to reconstruct the market because the number of people dealing in used clothes are uncountable.

“We are many, and so if you take away our livelihood many of us might take to crime. So the gmust consider our plight.”

Kofi Appiah, a middle aged man, also has been selling clothes at the large market for more than a decade.

He told the GNA, “we have been affected in many ways. Kantamanto is where we source our goods, and so as it stands now, where are we going to get goods?”

“This is not the first time but this is huge and has affected the entire market, and we don’t even know what to do now. And so we are pleading with the government to do something about the situation for us because as it stands now it is very critical and we are in dire straits,” the trader cried.

He also appealed to the government and the traditional rulers to consider livelihoods dependent on the market.

Madam Victory, a single mother, who deals in used brassieres and other accessories complained about the fire situation, which she said would threaten her ability to care for her three school-going children.

“We have been gravely affected and so we are pleading with the government to intervene and engage with Nii Ayibonte to permit the reconstruction as is done every fire season.”