Navrongo Market fire.....traders appeal for support.

Traders appeal for support Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo The Kassena-Nankana East Municipal Assembly(KNED) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are currently in the process of compiling a list of all the affected traders in last Sunday's late afternoon inferno that engulfed parts of the Navrongo Market. When the Daily Graphic visited the market on Monday morning, the Municipal NADMO Coordinator, Mr Roland Ayalazoya and staff of NADMO and the assembly where on hand to compile the data for onward submission to the assembly as well as the regional office of NADMO for the necessary assistance to be extended to those who lost their wares and investments in the flames. He told the Daily Graphic that initial reports indicated that the cause of the fire was as a result of incense which was dropped on a polythene bag containing explosives in one of the container stores while another version had it that a woman was using a gas cooker to cook which resulted to the fire. He said one trader, who sustained burns was on admission at the War Memorial Hospital receiving treatment. One of the victims, who gave her name as Hajia Ramatu said she had lost her provisions shop, causing her to lose over GHC 6,000 of her working capital. She expressed the hope that help will be extended to them to get their businesses back on track. Another told this reporter that while the fire was razing, some young men where also present looting products of traders. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Andema said after the assessment, the assembly will reconsider how to reconstruct the market. He said he has been in touch with the MP for the area, Mr Mark Woyongo who has requested for a report on the incidence to see what form of assistance can be extended to the traders. Responding to issues about congestion which make it difficult for fire tenders and fire service personnel to gain access to the market to quench the fire, Mr. Andema said several attempts to eject the traders and re-locate them from the old market which got burnt to the new market has been fruitless. He said the traders complained that the new market center which has been earmarked for them is water logged and they cannot be assured of the health implication of it. He said the assembly took pains to re-gravel the place yet the traders are adamant to move. He however commended the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service for the swift and quick response to contain the fire. The Municipal Fire Officer, DO II Peter Akansare said besides the difficulty in getting access to the market, fire hydrants to replenish the tenders were not easily accessible. He said they initially went to Doba to fill due to a power outage so they had to go to Tono to replenish. He reiterated that investigations were ongoing to determine the real cause of the fire -END-