Some of Kantamanto’s global-facing upcyclers have begun sharing footage and statements on social media. Yayra Agbofah, founder of The Revival, which creates new clothing out of textile waste from Kantamanto Market, posted videos of the scenes on Instagram, estimating that over 2,500 shops and stalls have been “burnt to ashes”, and writing “all we have left is bare ground”. Non-profit Upcycle It Ghana said its shop was engulfed by the flames and added: “This tragic incident has wiped out years of hard work and robbed many of their vital source of livelihood.”In a time when fashion has woefully few functioning waste handling solutions, the potential impact of losing Kantamanto Market cannot be overstated. The Or Foundation estimates that the market receives 15 million pieces of discarded clothing each week, much of it from the Global North. It says the market’s traders are responsible for recirculating 25 million secondhand items every month through resale, reuse, repair and remanufacturing.Concerned patrons and headporters (kayayei) of the Kantamanto Market in shock at the degree of damage caused by the fire.Photo: Tonia-Marie Parker, courtesy of the Or FoundationThanks to The Or Foundation’s awareness-raising and activism — as well as its controversial decision to accept funding from ultra-fast fashion brand Shein in 2022 — Kantamanto Market has become a globally recognised symbol of the secondhand clothing trade. Images of its repair and upcycling efforts, and the unusable textile waste clogging its beaches and polluting its waters, have been shared around the world. Insights from its retailers have been used to lobby the European Union on its extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulation.
Mer. Gen 8th, 2025
