Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, Flag bearer of People's National Congress (PNC) on Wednesday called for the establishment of a fund to compensate victims of Kantamanto market fire disaster.

"We need to set up a fund to be managed by executives of Kantamanto Railway Traders Association successfully with government playing a supervisory role," he said.

Dr Mahama made the call when sympathising with victims of last Monday fire outbreak at the market.

He said PNC would contribute to the fund when established. Dr Mahama called on appropriate authorities to be proactive and responsible and institute preventive measures to prevent its occurrence. "Thank God there were no casualties and could have been prevented if the stakeholders had planned well ahead of time," he said. Dr Mahama said it was unfortunate that most of the traders purchased their goods on credit and could not repay their debtors because of the disaster.

"Most of them have lost their livelihood and need employment but in Ghana unemployment benefits are not paid but the victims need to survive and need capital to get back into business," he added. Dr Mahama said in redesigning and construction of the market, traders, security agencies and all stakeholders must be involved. Mrs Comfort Mahama who accompanied his husband, called on the authorities to isolate dealers of inflammable items from the rest to reduce the intensity of fire outbreak in markets. She appealed to management of GNFS to ensure the provision of adequate fire hydrants at markets and intensify education on their operations to traders.

Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, National Chairman of PNC called for the reconstruction of the market and provision of access roads for GNFS fire tenders.

Mr Samuel Danquah, General Secretary of Kantamanto Railway Traders Association expressed appreciation to leadership of the various political parties for sympathising with them. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra and Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah 111, also visited the market to sympathise with the victims.

Mr Maxwell Yeboah, a Compact Disc (CD) dealer at the market said it was a major disaster at the market in a decade. 25 Sept. 08