Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Special Aide to President-elect John Dramani Mahama, has strongly refuted allegations linking the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the recent fire incident at Kantamanto market.

In response to claims that the NDC intends to sell the land on which Kantamanto sits, Bawah Mogtari labelled such allegations as “entirely true”, adding that it is politically motivated.

In a post shared on X on January 4, 2025, Joyce Bawah Mogtari stated, “It is, however, deeply unfortunate that some individuals, for clear political reasons, have resorted to spreading false rumours that the incoming NDC government intends to sell the Kantamanto land to a private developer and linking this to the unfortunate fire incident.”

She continued, “This baseless claim is entirely untrue and intended to mislead the public. We all know that, historically, the NDC has always stood with traders and the informal sector, working to improve their livelihoods through deliberate policies and interventions.”

While addressing the allegations, Bawah Mogtari also extended her condolences to the victims of the incident.

“The recent fire outbreak at Kantamanto is a devastating tragedy occurring at this time in the New Year. Our thoughts remain with the affected traders and their families during this difficult time,” she said.

She emphasised the NDC’s commitment to supporting traders and the informal sector, contrasting the party's approach with that of the outgoing government.

“We all know from the NDC’s record that it has always stood with traders and the informal sector, working to improve their livelihoods through deliberate policies and interventions.

“Unlike the outgoing government, which has been widely criticized for its spree of selling state assets, the NDC has no intention of continuing such practices. We are committed to preserving public resources and using them to benefit the people of Ghana,” she added.

Bawah Mogtari concluded her statement by calling for a thorough investigation into the fire incident.

“We pray that the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the fire to uncover the truth and bring relief to the affected traders,” she added

RAD/EB