Fire outbreak: We have nothing left – Shop owners in CMB market cry for help

Traders whose shops were burnt in a devastating fire at the CMB market in Accra over the weekend have tearfully appealed for support in this difficult time.

Speaking to Accra-based TV3’s Naa Ashorkor on Monday, September 18, the distraught business owners said they lost everything in the Sunday dawn blaze, including goods, money and clothing.

"We have nothing left. No place to sleep, no food to eat, no clothes - we need help," a woman said as tears flowed.

Over 350 wooden structure shops were gutted by fire at around 5am on Sunday at the market located behind Kantamanto.

Goods and properties worth thousands of cedis are reported to have been destroyed before firefighters from four stations brought the situation under control by 7:04am.

No casualties were recorded.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the first fire tender arrived at the scene five minutes after receiving a distress call at 5:04am.

Nearby buildings and COCOBOD's office were saved due to their rapid response.

However, the traders said they lost their livelihoods with no means to restart their businesses.

This is the second major fire incident at the market in a year, after a similar outbreak destroyed over 200 shops last July.