The government has presented a cheque for an amount of GH¢2,029,000.00 to some 98 traders whose properties were destroyed by fire at the Okaishie-Makola Market in Accra on Monday, 5th July 2021 as support to rebuild their businesses.

The cheque was presented to representatives of victims by Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyeremateng at a ceremony in Accra on Wednesday through the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA)  formerly known as NBSSI. 

Speaking at the event Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon Elizabeth Kwatseo Sackey said looking at the magnitude of the damage caused by the inferno, government could not have looked unconcerned hence the financial assistance to help cushion victims in these times of unexpected challenges. 

Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyeremateng who presented a symbolic cheque said the emergency support was designed to mitigate the effect of the incident on their businesses adding that a rigorous transparent process was undertaken to determine the level of support to each victim. 

"In all, ninety-eight(98) victims were identified as having suffered various levels of losses as a result of the unfortunate fire incident. The Government has therefore released an amount of Two Million, Twenty-Nine Thousand Ghana cedis (GHS 2,029,000.00) to be disbursed to these victims. This support we believe will go a long way to mitigate the adverse effects on your businesses as a result of the fire incident," he said. 

He disclosed that as part of efforts to streamline the operations of traders in markets, his outfit would work with all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to design a new retail market system.

He noted that in view of the critical role trade and commerce plays in the economic development of every country, government was enhancing Domestic Retail Trade by improving market and other distribution infrastructure as well as reducing administrative bottlenecks in domestic trade.

He mentioned that to address the challenges in trade facilitation and customs management which were impeding the work of many traders,  the government in 2017  introduced the new Trade Facilitation and Customs Management System, UNIPASS and provided emergency liquidity support *to the tune of GHS 600 million under the* Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAPBuSS) during the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

He also used the opportunity to express appreciation to all stakeholder organizations who provided support services to the victims particularly the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Accra Metro Assembly (AMA). 

Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh advised  traders to desist from the wrongful use of generators and employing the services of uncertified electricians 

He also  commended GUTA and the Ghana Enterprise Agency for working hand in hand in securing some compensation for them.