Baba Jamal donates GH¢5,000 each to victims of Nima Market fire

Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has announced a personal donation of GH¢5,000 each to traders affected by the devastating fire that swept through parts of the Nima Market in Accra on Monday night.

The MP made the announcement during a visit to the scene to commiserate with victims whose shops, goods, and livelihoods were destroyed in the blaze.

According to him, the financial support is intended to provide immediate relief to affected traders while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.

“On my own, I want to offer GH¢5,000 to each of the victims, and we want to do that immediately, maybe by the close of this weekend,” he said.

He added that the gesture is aimed at helping traders support their families and stabilize their lives in the short term as broader recovery plans are considered.

Mr Jamal described the fire outbreak as a major tragedy for both traders and residents in the area, noting that although no fatalities were recorded, many people have lost their primary source of income.

“You can see that this is a serious tragedy that has affected our people,” he stated.

The fire, which broke out late Monday night, destroyed numerous stalls and goods in one of Accra’s busiest commercial zones, leaving traders counting significant losses.

The MP also used the opportunity to renew calls for the redevelopment of the Nima Market, highlighting long-standing concerns about congestion, poor infrastructure, and the use of highly flammable wooden structures.

He warned that without urgent redevelopment, recurring fire incidents could continue to pose serious risks to traders and the surrounding community.

“This is one of the reasons why we need to rebuild this market. You can see the congestion. Definitely, if something like this continues, we are going to have a problem,” he cautioned.

The Nima Market is widely regarded as a key trading hub, attracting buyers and sellers from across Ghana as well as neighbouring West African countries, including Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

Mr Jamal appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, relevant government agencies, and the public to support efforts aimed at assisting victims and improving market infrastructure to prevent future disasters.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation are expected to continue investigations and conduct detailed assessments to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of losses.

The incident adds to growing concerns over recurring market fires in Accra, with stakeholders repeatedly calling for stronger fire safety measures, improved urban planning, and sustainable market redevelopment.