Dr Kingsley Agyeman, Member of Parliament-elect for the Abuakwa South constituency has expressed his sympathy to victims of the Kantamanto fire outbreak and encourages traders to allow government to lead the reconstruct of the market to meets safety standards to minimize disasters.
He underscored his appreciation about the concerns of traders to be back in business as early as possible but that must not be done at the expense of safety and the protection of lives and property.
He therefore called on the government to intervene immediately and consider the reconstruction of the Katamanto market in Accra’s central business district with assurance to the over 30,000 traders that they would be back to do business and none would be denied his or her ownership to the stores or stalls.
The Thursday’s fire outbreak saw the destruction of thousands of traders property running into millions of cedis.
Visit to the market revellead that affected traders through their unions are busyly rebuilding the market stalls and pavilions because of fear of possible take over by unknown investors that would denied them their livelihood.
Dr Kingsley Agyeman made the appeal when speaking to journalists after registration in Parliament underscored the importance of the reconstruction as government-led to ensure proper standards and safety.
“I hear they are reconstructing the market, and I strongly oppose that. We can’t continue to do the same things over and over again and expect different results. The reconstruction must be handled by the government,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the new market should feature properly engineered structures, noting, “We can’t continue to rebuild the market in the same way that led to the fire.”
Dr Agyeman encourages a mandatory insurance policy as part of the reconstruction.
