Organised by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA), the demonstration, which took place on 11 April, was in response to what some traders perceived as ongoing false information about their trade.
The peaceful protest aimed to draw attention to the financial and environmental benefits of Ghana’s secondhand clothing trade.
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The GUCDA also used the protest to criticise a campaign by non-governmental entity The Or Foundation, which has allegedly held Kantamanto’s merchants accountable for global overconsumption issues.
The protesters argued it was more important to address core problems such as overproduction, an inadequate waste management infrastructure and bolstering investment in Africa’s circular economies.
What led to Ghana’s secondhand clothing traders’ strike?
The OR Foundation and its affiliates have allegedly circulated misleading statistics and dramatic imagery, which sparked international discussions on waste disposal in Ghana with members of the GUCDA concerned that it could potentially jeopardise traders’ livelihoods.
GUCDA also disputed the frequently cited assertion that “40–50%” of imported secondhand clothing turns into waste, a statistic that it argues came from contested research conducted by The OR Foundation on a small scale.
The Or Foundation had not responded to Just Style’s request for comment ahead of going to press.
GUCDA chairman Jeffren Abrokwah said: “We will not remain silent while our work is discredited.
“Traders work tirelessly to give a second life to clothing that would otherwise end up in landfills in Europe or America. We refuse to allow the trade and the image of Ghana to be tarnished by the OR Foundation’s false narratives. It is especially painful that an organisation claiming to champion sustainability is spreading lies about a thriving, sustainable trade that supports livelihoods and clothes millions of our people, all while benefiting from fast fashion money. The hypocrisy is astounding.”
He added: “We are the ones cleaning up the fashion industry’s mess, not causing it. All we ask for is respect and honesty.”
Response to the strike
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has signalled its plans for a nationwide demonstration in support of secondhand clothing dealers amid what it perceives as targeted efforts to dismantle their trade.
Local news outlet Citinewsroom reported that Kantamanto market’s leadership has publicly refuted claims made by GUCDA, labelling them as deceptive and not reflective of the collective opinion within the market community.
The market’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, sustainability, and its ongoing partnership with The OR Foundation.
