Ghanaian artist Wendy Shay has extended her support to traders impacted by the devastating fire that engulfed the Kantamanto Market in Accra on January 2, 2025. The blaze, which erupted at dawn on Thursday, January 2, destroyed over 7,000 shops and severely affected more than 30,000 traders.
In a heartfelt display of generosity, Wendy Shay was captured in a video distributing money to the affected traders. She not only showered them with cash but also handed out an undisclosed amount enclosed in envelopes, providing much-needed financial relief to those devastated by the fire.
The efforts to extinguish the fire were significantly hindered by water shortages and logistical challenges, which exacerbated the extent of the damage and prolonged the recovery process for the traders.
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Wendy Shay took to her Instagram page to share a video of her visit to Kantamanto Market. Accompanied by the caption, “Earlier this afternoon I passed by Kantamanto to support those affected by the fire outbreak. May God strengthen them in this difficult time,” she expressed her solidarity and support for the affected community. Her compassionate gesture received widespread appreciation from the traders, with some pledging their support for Wendy in her future endeavors.
Wendy Shay is not the only public figure to respond to the tragedy. Following the incident, other notable personalities, including O.K. Frimpong, the Member of Parliament-elect for Asante Akyem North Constituency, and Nana Kwame Bediako, a prominent business mogul and presidential aspirant for the 2024 election, have also visited the site to offer their assistance and encouragement.
The Kantamanto Market fire has highlighted the vulnerability of small traders in Accra and underscored the need for improved infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms to prevent and mitigate such disasters in the future. Community support from influential figures like Wendy Shay plays a crucial role in aiding the affected traders as they rebuild their lives and businesses.
