A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), legal practitioner, philanthropist, and Former Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Hon. Irene Naa Torshie Addo, has donated an amount of GH¢200,000 to traders affected by recent fire outbreaks at the Kantamanto Market in Accra and the Kumasi Central Market.
The donation, made through her Renado Foundation, was presented at separate ceremonies in the two cities during her visit to the markets on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The gesture follows two devastating fire outbreaks that ravaged large sections of the busy trading centres, leaving hundreds of market women and traders counting their losses.
The Kantamanto Market fire occurred on Thursday, January 2, 2025, destroying several shops and stalls. Preliminary investigations by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) suggest that an electrical fault may have caused the fire, although the possibility of arson has not been ruled out.
“We suspect electrical faults, but there are also indications that this could have been a deliberate act. An investigation is ongoing to establish the facts,” said GNFS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex King Nartey.
A similar incident in the Kumasi Central Market earlier this year also left dozens of traders displaced and struggling to recover their livelihoods.
Touched by the plight of the victims, Hon. Naa Torshie Addo, who was outside the country at the time of the incidents, described the scenes as heartbreaking. On her return, she said her support was not only a duty but a moral obligation.
“I consider myself an Obaatan, a mother to the people, and it is only right that I contribute my widow’s mite to help these women get back on their feet,” she said.
In her remarks, she noted the importance of going beyond financial relief and urged the market traders to take insurance and infrastructure compliance seriously.
She revealed plans to organise education sessions with the market traders to introduce them to the various insurance packages available for market businesses, as well as the structural standards needed to qualify for coverage.
She further cautioned against the widespread practice of indiscriminate electrical wiring in market spaces, which often leads to circuit overload and overheating, a major cause of fires in crowded trading areas.
Hon Naa Torshie speaking to leaders of Kantamanto
She appealed to the leadership of Kantamanto and Kumasi markets to engage only certified electrical engineers for all electrical installations going forward adding that was time to prioritise safety.
She added that as part of the support services she was ready to render the people, qualified electricians would be made available to them.
Hon. Naa Torshie Addo’s intervention makes her the first female philanthropist to commit such a significant amount to the victims.
The Chairman of the Kantamanto Market Association, together with executive members, conveyed their appreciation, while market women sang her praises in appreciation of her support.
She was accompanied by a delegation of NPP women executives from the Greater Accra Region and other party members. She also acknowledged the efforts of other political and government figures who had earlier visited the affected sites to express solidarity.
Hon. Naa Torshies Addo gave assurance that her support would not end with the cash donation. “This is just the beginning. We will continue to stand by you, not only with words but with action that brings long-term change,” she said.
