Adum Traders Reject Bags of Rice and Oil From Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka

• Victims of the recent Adum PZ market fire incident in Kumasi have rejected food donations from the Interior Minister
• The Minister had brought 1,500 bags of rice and 8,000 boxes of cooking oil to present to the traders, but they refused the offer
• The traders' rejection of the donation was caught on video, showing them jeering at the Minister and his team as they refused the aid
• A relationship expert, Apostle Eric Okai, shared his views on the on this in an interaction with YEN.com.gh

Victims of the recent Adum PZ market fire incident have reportedly rejected food donations from the Interior Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.

The Interior Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase in the Ashanti Region, visited the fire scene with 1,500 bags of rice and 8,000 boxes of cooking oil to present to the traders.

However, the traders rejected the items, stating that they were not what they needed at the moment.

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In a video circulating on social media, the traders were seen jeering at Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka and his team as they refused to accept the food donations.

Watch the video below:

The Adum market fire occurred in the early hours of Friday, March 21, 2025, destroying several shops and livelihoods.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) managed to overcome the ravaging fire after nearly three days.

So far, over 100 shops have been ravaged in the fire incident, leaving the victims devastated and reeling over their losses.

Following the incident, the ruling government, through the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, met with victims and assured them of its commitment to help them recover part of their losses and rebuild the market.

Before the government honours its pledge, the immediate past Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, visited the fire scene to commiserate with the traders.

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During the visit, Dr Bawumia donated GH¢200,000 and 1,000 bags of cement to the traders.

The traders expressed gratitude to the former Vice President for his swift response and support.

Speaking to YEN.com.gh, Apostle Eric Okai, senior pastor and counsellor, said while the Interior Minister and NADMO's gesture was thoughtful, as it will provide them immediate relief, the trader acted their way did because their only concern is how to get their livelihood back.

Consequently, he said the best way to console persons who has lost their livelihoods through a disaster is to help them get back on their feet.

"Supporting the victim to get their livelihood restored is the only way. This approach enables them to regain financial stability and independence. By doing so, we can help them rebuild their lives and create a brighter future," he stated.

Traders appeal for construction materials

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One of the affected traders in an interview alerted the appropriate authorities on the level of support needed at this time.

He said items such as rice and oil would be more beneficial to the School Feeding Programme rather than traders

With this, he explained that as traders they would be most grateful if construction items such as cement bags, roofing sheets, wood and building blocks, in addition to money, were provided.

NADMO staff speaks on rice and oil donation

Also a staff member of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has offered clarity on the decision by the management to first send food items to affected persons of the Adum fire incident.

Speaking in a TikTok video, the young man, Nana Yaw Danso Abeam, explained that the donation was part of standard operating procedure.

In line with best practices, the man explained that it was the duty of NADMO to first provide relief items to the victims before assessing the magnitude of the damage.

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This, he added, would help them to ably support the victims.

The fire service is yet to release a report on the cause of the fire.

Reactions to the Interior Minister's donation

Some Ghanaians who saw the video of the Adum PZ traders rejecting the Interior Minister's food item donations took to the comment.

@amadelali2 said:

"Ok ,he should please donate to the orphanage. No one will even give them foko again."

@arenastudioss also said:

"I’m happy the youth are thinking now."

@iam_ignaciox commented:

"My question is -do they need rice at this crucial moment? sometimes giving gifts are good ooo but the timing can become insulting."

@tsoo__l also commented:

"Atp I want to understand what they want… We make politics enter our head too much. Lmaooooo."

Trader blames incident on dumsor

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that a trader at the Adum PZ blamed the market fire incident on the recurring power outages, popularly known as dumsor.

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Although the GNFS are yet to conclude investigations and disclose the cause of the fire, the young man criticized the Electricity Company of Ghana and the government for their failure to address the incessant power cuts.

Many who saw the young man's video thronged the comment section to share their opinions.

Source: YEN.com.gh