Kantamanto Market Fire Relief

Jan. 3, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Or Foundation has committed $1 million USD in emergency relief to the Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana, following a devastating fire. This market is the world’s largest secondhand clothing market and a vital hub for reuse and repair. The donation will support impacted community members, including retailers, upcyclers and women. The Or Foundation is a non-profit working to develop solutions to fashion’s global waste crisis.

The  Market is a vital hub for many people and that it is a source of livelihood for a large community. The market supports a community of more than 30,000 people. The Or Foundation has provided support to over 1,500 second-hand clothing retailers and upcyclers after the market fire, suggesting the size of the community directly involved in the buying and selling of garments at Kantamanto.

The sources do not explicitly state the cause of the fire at Kantamanto Market. However, it is clear that a fire did occur and that it was devastating. The fire has had a significant impact on the many people who work at the market, including retailers and other members of the community. The Or Foundation is working to provide relief and support to those affected by the fire, and it is working to revitalize the market. The market is a vital hub for a large community of people, and it is the largest second-hand clothing market in the world.

The fire at Kantamanto Market has significant implications for the fashion industry, particularly in relation to its waste and sustainability practices.

Here’s a breakdown of the impacts:

Call for Industry Support: The Or Foundation is calling for support from the fashion industry to revitalise the world’s largest second-hand market. This indicates that the fire has created an urgent need for the fashion industry to take responsibility and contribute to the recovery of Kantamanto Market. This call also highlights the interconnectedness of the global fashion industry with markets that process its waste.

Highlighting Waste Crisis: Kantamanto Market is a crucial hub for recirculating second-hand clothing, and it is where 15 million second-hand garments arrive every week, and where 25 million pieces of second-hand clothing are recirculated through resale, reuse, repair, and remanufacturing each month. The fire has disrupted this vital system and exposed the scale of the global fashion waste crisis and the reliance on places like Kantamanto to manage the sheer volume of discarded garments.

Supply Chain Vulnerability: The fire at Kantamanto Market highlights the vulnerability of the second-hand clothing supply chain. This disruption underscores the need for more resilient and sustainable practices throughout the fashion industry, from production to disposal. The market’s dependence on clothing from the Global North exposes how global supply chains rely on informal economies.

Need for Brand Accountability: The Or Foundation is advocating for brand accountability within the fashion industry. This suggests that the fire has created an opportunity to push for greater responsibility from fashion brands in managing their waste and reducing their environmental footprint.

Focus on Circular Economy: Kantamanto Market plays a role in a circular economy by recirculating clothing through resale, reuse, repair and remanufacturing. The fire has disrupted this circular system and highlighted the importance of investing in similar practices.

Environmental Justice: The Or Foundation is calling for support from the fashion industry, emphasizing that environmental justice is a key concern. The fire has drawn attention to the need for the fashion industry to consider how its practices impact vulnerable communities and how it can support them.

The fire at Kantamanto Market has brought the fashion industry’s waste crisis into sharp focus. It has highlighted the need for industry support, greater accountability, and more sustainable and resilient practices. The fire has also underscored the significance of markets like Kantamanto in managing textile waste and the importance of investing in circular economy models.

The Or Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to developing solutions to the global waste crisis within the fashion industry, and also to supporting the communities that are most impacted by it. The foundation is based in Accra, Ghana, and it focuses on the Kantamanto Market, which is the world’s largest second-hand clothing market.

The Or Foundation is involved in a range of activities, including:

Providing immediate disaster relief and emergency support, such as following the fire at Kantamanto Market.

Providing grants and financial assistance, such as through the Secondhand Solidarity Fund (SSF). The SSF has distributed over $500,000 USD to more than 1,500 members of the Kantamanto Market community.

Advocating for meaningful international policy change and brand accountability.

Leading science-based research initiatives.

Providing education and programming.

The Or Foundation committed $1 million USD to emergency relief efforts after the Kantamanto Market fire. It also established the SSF to provide financial relief to those affected by the fire, including retailers, upcyclers, and other workers in the market. Additionally, the foundation supported women working as kayayei (head porters) during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The Or Foundation is working to address the broader issues of waste and environmental justice. The foundation is also working to support the livelihoods of those who depend on the market. The Or Foundation is collaborating with the Closed Doors Association (CUDA) and Accra Metropolitan Assembly to support fire-affected people.