A month after the devastating fire incident that disrupted commercial activities at Kantamanto Market, business has officially resumed, However, traders continue to face marginally low sales and reduced customer traffic, dampening hopes of a swift recovery.
While prices of goods and services have increased slightly as traders attempt to recover from their significant financial losses, many are still struggling to regain stability. The market, which serves as one of Ghana’s largest trading hubs, is yet to see the usual bustling activity that fuels its economy. Many vendors say the usual bustling commercial atmosphere is yet to return, leaving them concerned about their long-term sustainability.
Some traders have expressed concerns over customer hesitation to return, calling on shoppers to resume business and support their recovery efforts.
“We have restocked, but people are not coming as they used to. We need customers to return so we can rebuild,” Sisco Baffour, a trader who deals with second-hand clothing lamented.
Despite the challenges, business owners remain hopeful that consumer confidence will improve in the coming weeks, allowing them to offset their losses and sustain their livelihoods. However, with economic pressures and rising costs, the road to full recovery remains uncertain.
A chop bar operator at the market, Cynthia Ababio, was worried her business could never take shape anytime soon due to the low turnout at her end. She told The High Street Journal about the cost she incurred to rebuild her shop after the fire incident which has been a hurdle to break even. Though she benefited from some soft loans from government and other unions it was not enough to put her back in business.
” We got some loans to cushion us but it does not make up for even 50% of my entire business, everyone is rebuilding and does not think about food, so business is not good for now,” she stressed.
With uncertainty looming over the market’s recovery, traders and stakeholders are calling for government support and financial intervention. Some have suggested market revitalization strategies, including temporary relief measures and targeted funding, to help businesses stabilize.
As the weeks progress, traders remain hopeful that consumer confidence will improve, allowing them to regain momentum. However, for many, the path to full recovery remains an uphill battle.
