Traders in the Accra Central Business District have described how intense Christmas shopping activity triggered a stampede at the market on Monday, December 22, following severe congestion in the area.
Speaking to media, the traders said the incident occurred as large crowds flooded the market to buy food items and other necessities ahead of the festive season. The unusually high volume of shoppers, they explained, led to panic among both traders and customers.
Eyewitnesses said several people collapsed during the confusion, including a pregnant woman, while others—especially children—lost mobile phones and cash amid the chaos.
Calm was eventually restored after personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service intervened, using water to disperse the crowd and ease tensions, preventing the situation from escalating further.
The Accra Central Market is one of the busiest commercial hubs in the capital, particularly during the Christmas period, when thousands of shoppers converge daily to prepare for the festivities.
