Millions Of Goods Destroyed As Fire Guts Several Shops At CMB

Goods worth millions of Ghana cedis have been destroyed in a blazing fire that gutted several shops at CMB, behind the popular Kantamanto market in Accra Sunday morning.

The cause of the fire which started around 5:00 am on Sunday September 17, 2023 is currently unknown. Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were quickly dispatched to the scene, but the fire had already spread to several shops before they arrived.

Several flammable objects were found at the scene of the fire, according to ADO1 Alex Nartey, a Public Relations Officer of the GNFS.

The destroyed shops were being used for both commercial and domestic purposes and their contents including ovens, LPG cylinders, deep freezers, bags of flour and beans were all destroyed.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) explained that the distress fire call was received at 05:04 am GMT and the first fire engine from Accra City Fire Station got to the fire scene at 05:06 am to bring the situation under control at 06:40 am.

The rapid spreading fire was finally knocked out by the gallant Firefighters at 0740 hours without recording any casualty destroying some 350 structures which were mostly wooden.

By the time the fire was put out, several shops had been completely destroyed. Some of the traders at the market expressed their frustration and disappointment at the incident. Many of them stated that they had lost everything.

The GNFS is advising traders to be careful with electrical appliances and to avoid storing flammable materials in their shops.

This is the second major fire incident at the CMB market in recent years.

In 2020, a fire destroyed over 200 shops at the market.

The Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, visited the scene of the fire Sunday afternoon to assess the damage caused by a fire that broke out earlier that morning.

She interacted with the affected victims and assured of her readiness to support them get back to their feet.

“I am very saddened by this incident,” Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings said, adding “It is devastating to see so many businesses destroyed. I want to assure the affected traders that I will do everything I can to help them get back on their feet.”