Thousands of Traders Left Vulnerable After Fire Devastates Accra’s Kantamanto Market, One of the World’s Largest Secondhand Clothing Hubs

A large-scale cleanup operation is underway following a devastating fire that ravaged one of the largest secondhand clothing markets in the world. On the evening of January 1, a blaze broke out at Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, destroying much of the market and leaving thousands of traders facing significant financial losses.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded quickly, deploying 13 fire trucks to combat the flames. While there have been no reports of severe injuries, the financial impact is expected to run into millions of Ghanaian cedi. Preliminary investigations suggest that faulty electrical wiring may have triggered the fire, although arson has not been ruled out.

Approximately two-thirds of Kantamanto Market, a crucial hub for secondhand goods, was engulfed in the fire, affecting an estimated 8,000 individuals. This number is anticipated to rise as the full extent of the damage is assessed.

Alhassan Fatawu, a stall owner at the market who repurposed secondhand fabric into his own designs, expressed the despair of many traders. “I was informed early Thursday morning that my stall was destroyed in the fire,” Fatawu said. “I rushed to the market and found nothing but ashes. All my work, my livelihood, is gone.”

Before the fire, Kantamanto was a bustling marketplace known for its vast array of secondhand clothes from global brands like H&M, Levi Strauss, and Tesco. Around 30,000 people relied on the market for their income. According to the Or Foundation, which advocates against textile waste in Ghana, the market handles around 15 million secondhand garments every week from the global north, including the UK, US, and China. The market also plays a significant role in reprocessing approximately 25 million pieces of clothing monthly through reselling, upcycling, and remanufacturing.

The fire has severely disrupted this vibrant economic ecosystem, impacting not only retailers but also those involved in upcycling and repairs. Yayra Agbofah, founder of the community-driven organization Revival, was at the scene alongside many others working to clear debris and salvage what they could. “We aim to rebuild the market within a week,” Agbofah said. “The traders need to get back to work; their livelihoods depend on it.”

The situation has left many traders in a dire financial position, with some facing significant debt. Despite the severity of the disaster, there has been little communication from the government regarding recovery efforts. Agbofah emphasized the necessity of collective action to rebuild, stating, “We have no choice but to start from scratch. We must rebuild and find a way to keep the market alive.”

In response to the catastrophe, the Or Foundation has pledged $1 million to support the cleanup and recovery. The organization is also urging the global fashion industry to contribute. Daniel Mawuli Quist, creative director at the Or Foundation, stressed the importance of a sustainable approach to the industry, pointing out that true sustainability goes beyond promoting new products. “Kantamanto exemplifies the need for a circular fashion system that values all stages of the clothing lifecycle,” Quist said. “This is a crucial moment for the fashion world to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and solidarity.”