KMA to offer support to Kumasi Central market fire victims

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has hinted on efforts it will take to support fire victims who lost huge sums of money when parts of its central market was set ablaze.

Over 30 shops in the Kumasi Central market were razed on Monday, April 19, according to reports reaching JoyNews.

This unfortunate incident saw many business operators lamenting over difficulty to settle their debts and to revitalize their businesses.

To support the affected persons, the Assembly’s PRO, Afia Konadu Aboagye who spoke with JoyNews Correspondent, Prince Appiah revealed that the assembly would keep assisting such persons as it has in the past.

She noted that the assembly is contemplating whether to provide the victims with cash or to aid them access low-interest loans from the banks. Any of the options above she says will help the victims start up their businesses.

“The assembly has always been supporting them whenever there is a fire incident. So with the market manager, we get their records and we refer them to NADMO to do one or two things for them and with regards to their capital. Also, the assembly takes a decision on how much should be given to support them or lease them with the banks so they can get some support at a reduced interest rate.

“The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly is considering facilitating access to low-interest bank loans for traders affected by a recent fire at the central market,” she stated.

Konadu Aboagye further confirmed that the affected shops do not form part of the second phase of the market’s redevelopment project.

She also added that the assembly is working hand-in-hand with the Ghana National Fire Service to collect the debris at the scene.

“It is unfortunate that he fire incident took place. That place is not part of the second phase. It forms part of the third phase. They are not part of the second phase at all

The assembly is working hand-in-hand with the Ghana National Fire Service to collect the debris and work on that phase for them because they are not part of it at all and they have not been catered for so we can’t ask them to move when they are not part of the second phase,” she explained.