Here’s How You Can Help Traders in Kantamanto
Over 7,000 traders have lost their businesses in a devastating fire in Accra, Ghana, facing what they predict will be months of difficult recovery ahead.
This aerial view shows people trying to salvage items from the burned down secondhand clothing market at Kantamanto in Accra, Ghana, on January 2, 2025.
In the early hours of January 1, Kantamanto Market, Ghana’s busiest market and one of the biggest commercial hubs for secondhand clothing, was ravaged by a fire. The cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained, although preliminary investigations by the Ghana National Fire Service point to“faulty electrical connections” or arson. It burned down shops and destroyed warehouse goods, leaving thousands of traders devastated.
Amidst ongoing cleanups of the debris left by the fire and recovery efforts from traders to see what can be salvaged, some traders are trying to rebuild their destroyed shops and find ways to recover from the monumental loss.
Ghana’s former president, Nana Akufo-Addo, expressed sadness at the news of the incident saying, “I extend heartfelt sympathy to the hardworking traders who have lost their goods and investments.”
Kantamanto was a sprawling arena with rows and rows of stalls and shops spread across over 20,000 acres of land. It received over 15 million articles of used clothes weekly, mainly from China, the United Kingdom and the United States. Over the years, the market relied on by over 30,000 people has been a contentious site for textile waste. According to the Or Foundation, a sustainability foundation fighting against textile waste in Ghana and supporting various recycling and upcycling efforts, 40 percent of the clothes in Kantamanto are left as waste.
Because of an abundant supply, Kantamanto has also become an integral supplier of materials for brands and fashion houses focused on sustainable clothing.
Alongside stalls, traders have also lost massive warehouses and investments in the fire, an incident that many say will take months to come back from.
It is currently unclear how long it will take for the area to be cleared out and for traders to begin operations again safely. Still, the many traders whose stalls aren’t insured say financial assistance and government relief will go a long way in helping them restart their businesses.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s new president, John Mahama, has said his administration will focus onrevamping the marketwith a focus on sustainability and disaster prevention.
Below are some of the ways you can support ongoing relief efforts at Kantamanto Market:
Donate to Organizations
Foundations like the Or Foundation, fighting against textile waste, have committed $1 million to relief efforts at Kantamanto. The foundation is currently working with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, which has coordinated the movement of trucks and is managing the debris from the market. The foundation is also on the ground, providing medical and emergency assistance to the many people there.
To support its work and its goal of assisting traders with direct relief funds, you can make donations here.
Volunteer
If you’re in Ghana, you can offer support by offering your time to help the traders rebuild their stalls or remove the debris.
Direct Donations
You can also make direct donations to individual vendors who have been affected. If you know someone who has a store in Kantamanto, this is the best time to extend financial support or see how else you can help. People at the Kantamanto arena could use welfare and even more medical assistance.
Stay Updated
You can also help by amplifying and sharing reports like this or following organizations like the Or Foundation and The Revival who are providing real-time updates on the situation.
