Traders occupying the various stalls at the ultra-modern Kejetia market have hailed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia., declaring him as the next leader of Ghana in 2024.
The market queen of yam sellers made this declaration when Vice President Bawumia visited the market on Monday, 20th March to have firsthand knowledge of the unfortunate fire outbreak in the market.
In his address Dr, Bawumia assured the traders at the Kejetia Market the place will be open to business on March 21, 2023, which counters earlier announcements by managers of the facility of an extension to the closure.
They indicated that the announcement comes as a big relief to them after authorities closed down the facility to allow for investigations into the cause of last week’s fire
His assurance comes on the heel of traders’ insistence that the place had to be opened for business so that the affected shops are dealt with in an isolated case.
Dr. Bawumia’s intervention is timely. It has brought a sigh of relief to the traders who disclosed that they were gradually being pushed out of business as a result of the closure. The Vice President has also assured users of the facility that the President his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is willing to come to the aid of the traders to make life much easier for them. Dr. Bawumia assured the affected market women that government will support them with some funds to get back to business.
This was after he toured the Kejetia Market facility to ascertain the extent of damage and sympathize with traders.
Addressing the traders, he said it was important that life was brought back to the market through trading activities.
“I know what worries you (traders is the lack of work), the closure of the market is a source of worry. The Fire Service say they know what happened, it’s not an electrical fault, they have examined all, and tomorrow the market will be opened so the business can go on,” he said.
“President Nana will intervene and support traders at the Kejetia market that had their shops and wares damaged. He has also asked for government support in implementing recommendations of the fire from the investigations,” he said.
He urged the traders to be vigilant in the market to avert future occurrences as the fire was started by a trader cooking so close to combustible materials
“We have visited the spot of the fires and 33 shops were gutted. I have asked for a reason. I have been told investigations so far have suggested someone was cooking in his shop with gas. That is where the fire started,” he said.
“Other shops close by also sell turpentine, gunpowder, and other combustibles that resulted in explosions in the market,” he said.
