The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has disclosed that arson is suspected in the recent Kantamanto market fire and has called for a forensic investigation to uncover the truth, though the association firmly believes the incident was not politically motivated
GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng made this call during an interview with The High Street Journal and stressed that the forensic investigation would uncover the truth and ensure accountability.
According to Dr. Obeng, traders in Kantamanto had heard rumors of a potential fire before the incident occurred. Alarmed by this information, they attempted to notify the police as a precautionary measure.
“Before the fire, there were rumors that the place was going to be burned. The traders made an attempt to report to the police,” he said. This raises the importance of a detailed forensic investigation to determine the validity of these claims.
Addressing suspicions of arson, Dr. Obeng highlighted that while the incident seemed deliberate, there is no evidence to suggest political interference.
He stressed the importance of avoiding politicization of the matter, as it could lead to unnecessary distractions. “Even though there were rumors about the place being burned, and it burned, people are suspecting arson. We are also sure that it’s not politically motivated, and people should not bring [politics into it],” he stated.
Dr. Obeng also emphasized the need for a detailed investigation to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. He noted that resolving this incident requires factual evidence, not speculation. “We should make a forensic investigation to find the root cause of this, and if it is arson, the people responsible should be brought to book,” he added.
To avoid fueling unsubstantiated claims, Dr. Obeng reiterated that GUTA does not suspect any political motives and urged the public to remain calm while investigations proceed. “We are not suspecting any political motives. That’s why we do not want to speculate about that,” he said.
A thorough forensic investigation would not only uncover the truth but also guide future safety measures for markets. The Kantamanto fire has had devastating consequences for traders, destroying goods worth millions of cedis and severely impacting livelihoods.
Investigations continue, and GUTA is urging the government and other stakeholders to collaborate on finding solutions to prevent such incidents in the future.
