Alhaji Aliu Salisu, Chief Executive Officer of Alhaji and Madina Company Limited, a renowned road and building construction firm, has categorically denied allegations linking him to the recent fire outbreak that ravaged parts of the Amakom Market in Kumasi, describing the claims as baseless, wicked, and deeply hurtful.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Punch newspaper in Kumasi on Wednesday , Alhaji Salisu dismissed speculations that he deliberately engineered the burning of the market to pave the way for reconstruction works allegedly awarded to his company.
According to him, such an act would amount to a curse upon his life and family, stressing that no responsible human being with a conscience would contemplate destroying the livelihoods of hardworking traders for personal gain.
“I have a wife and children. I have a family. Why should I cause harm to people’s property, render them jobless, and then go home to enjoy life with my family?” he questioned.
The construction magnate further invoked his religious beliefs, stating that as a Muslim, he fully understands the spiritual consequences of wrongdoing.
“I am a Muslim and I know that life has two parts. What you plant here on earth is what you will reap after death.
Deliberately burning a market to deprive people of their daily bread will never bring me any good,” he affirmed.
Alhaji Salisu expressed shock at the speed with which what he described as “falsehoods and malicious propaganda” have spread, warning that those peddling such lies would ultimately face divine judgment.
“Those behind these false accusations will surely face their judgment from God,” he stated firmly.
Providing clarity on the history of the Amakom Market redevelopment project, Alhaji Salisu revealed that the reconstruction contract was awarded to him several years ago during the tenure of Hon. Osei Assibey, the former Mayor of Kumasi.
He explained that the project has been under his care for the past seven to eight years, long before the recent fire incident.
“For the past seven to eight years now, the contract has been with me. I never did such an ungodly thing then, so why should I do it now? Do you think burning the market will solve any problem?” he asked.
He emphasized that the insinuation that the fire was orchestrated to make construction work easier is not only illogical but also an insult to his integrity and long-standing reputation in the construction industry.
Despite the controversy, Alhaji Salisu expressed deep sympathy for traders who suffered losses as a result of the fire, acknowledging the severe economic hardship the incident has imposed on affected families.
“My heart goes out to all the traders who were affected. I pray that the Almighty Allah grants them the financial strength and resilience to rebuild their businesses and restore their livelihoods,” he said.
He further called on the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, urging residents to allow investigations into the cause of the fire to take their proper course.
The Amakom Market fire has sparked widespread public debate, with calls for thorough investigations to determine its cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Aliu Salisu maintains that he remains committed to ethical business practices and contributing positively to national development.
