What Caused The Fire At The World’s Largest Secondhand Clothes Hub?
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1 day ago
And how can you help the relief efforts?
A devastating fire swept through Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, on January 1, 2025, effectively destroying one of the world’s largest secondhand clothing markets. The blaze started in the early hours of the morning, eliminating hundreds of stalls and damaging the livelihoods of thousands of market traders. ‘This is devastating,’ Alex King Nartey, a GNFS spokesperson, said. ‘We’ve not recorded severe casualties, but the economic loss is enormous.’
What Is Kantamanto Market?
Kantamanto Market is a vital economic hub in Ghana’s capital, receiving approximately 15 million secondhand clothing items weekly from Western countries. It is where many of our secondhand unwanted items end up from the UK, following donation or recycling. The fire has dealt a severe blow to the local economy, with reports suggesting that an estimated 8,000 traders will be directly affected by the disaster.
The fire has highlighted the global implications of the secondhand clothing trade. Kantamanto Market plays a crucial role in the circular economy, providing a second life for millions of garments discarded by consumers in Western countries. As cleanup efforts continue, calls for support from the global fashion industry have intensified. The Or Foundation is urging fashion brands and retailers to contribute to the relief and rebuilding efforts, recognising the market’s vital role in the industry’s ecosystem.
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Local trader Alahassan Fatawu told reporters: ‘The man who runs the neighbouring stall called me and said everything had burned. I started panicking. I found burnt stalls. There were still parts burning,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t salvage a thing [from my stall]. Everything has gone. Now my daily bread has been cut. I used my stall at Kantamanto to sustain myself.’
David Kwadwo Amoateng, president of the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), has urged the government to act swiftly, saying: ‘The traders here need emergency funding to get back on their feet. Without immediate intervention, thousands of livelihoods are at risk.’
The government is yet to announce a formal response.
What Caused The Fire?
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is currently conducting a thorough investigation to establish the definitive cause of the fire. Alex King Nartey, a spokesperson for the GNFS, told news sources: ‘Preliminary investigations suggest faulty electrical connections might have sparked the blaze, although we are not ruling out arson.’
What Can We Do To Help?
The Or Foundation, an American-Ghanaian non-profit organisation involved with the Kantamanto community, has committed $1 million USD to emergency relief efforts. This funding will support immediate cleanup operations, debris removal, and provide direct financial assistance to affected community members.
Liz Ricketts, founder of The Or Foundation, said: ‘Kantamanto is not just an economic centre, but a hub of creativity and an alternative to the linear economy of fast fashion. The losses are catastrophic, but we are determined to support the community in this difficult time’.
The Or Foundation is now seeking additional support through this charity appeal to help rebuild the market and sustain relief efforts. The organisation is currently working with community leaders to coordinate cleanup efforts, assist with medical cases resulting from the fire, and plan for rebuilding the market.
Find out more about their relief efforts at donorbox.org.
