Nana Oye Lithur
The Ministry for Gender Children and Social Protection will begin disbursement of GH¢2 million to over 7,000 traders affected by recent market fires on Monday, August 12 2013.
Beneficiaries of the funds will be drawn from the Mokola No.1 and 2 markets, Kantamanto market and the Kumasi Central Market where fire razed goods and properties worth millions.
President Mahama, in the wake of the fire outbreaks, instructed the Finance Minister to earmark GH¢ 5 million as emergency fund to support the affected traders. GH¢ 3 million out of the total amount was to be used for reconstruction activities in the affected markets and the rest disbursed to victims.
Sector Minister, Nana Oye Lithur, said the GH¢ 2 million support is a compensation fund which the traders would not have to pay back.
Acknowledging that the funds which individual beneficiaries would be receiving is not much, she said the aim of the assistance is not restore all the properties which the traders lost in the fires.
But the gesture is to let traders know that government has their interest at heart.
She said victims of the Dome market fire will also be catered for at a later date.
Read the statement below
MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION (MoGCSP)
PRESS RELEASE ON DISBURSEMENT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY RECENT FIRE OUTBREAKS IN SELECTED MARKETS IN ACCRA AND KUMASI
Following the series of recent fire outbreaks in some markets in Accra and the Kumasi Central market, which resulted in substantial loss of properties of some traders and its effect on their livelihoods, the government assured the affected people of its support.
In response to the plight of the victims, President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama instructed the Finance Minister to earmark five million Cedis (GH¢5,000,000.00) as emergency fund to support the affected traders. Three million Cedis (GHc3,000,000.00) out of the total amount was to be used for reconstruction activities in the affected markets. The remaining two million Cedis (GHc2,000,000.00) was to be disbursed to affected traders.
In case of reply the number and date of this letter should be quoted
Our Ref. …………………………………………
Your Ref. ……………………………………….
Tel No 0302688181/688188
11th August, 2013
REPUBLIC OF GHANA