Kantamanto Market

Last updated

Kantamanto Market is a market area situated in the central business district of Accra, in Ghana. The market consists mostly of the typical Akan tribes of Kwahus and Ashantis. It is a well known market in Accra with a specialization in clothing resale. The site is an important part of the informal economy of the city. [1] At its peak it was the largest used clothes market in West Africa. [2]

Contents

The site received increasing international attention after sustainable fashion activists and journalists identified the market as one of the main receivers of imported unusable used clothing in the fast fashion industry. [3] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of the garments that enter the market and are sorted by traders get discarded into landfills. [4] [5] The market and its informal economy play an important role in the city's economy, and COVID-19 restrictions greatly harmed the trade in the city. [5]

A December 2020 fire, which some reports suggest were set by real estate developers, decimated the market. [6] [7] Though some vendors tried to return to the site, [1] developers announced in March 2021 are building a new shopping center at the site.

Market structure

There are over 30,000 traders in the market selling all kinds of wares from used clothing to food to car spare parts. [3]

Fires

Due to the congested nature of the market, when ever there is a fire outbreak the damage is always extensive. With the destruction of good and structures running into several thousands of cedis. There are no fire hydrants in the market making it almost impossible to refill fire tenders which run out of water during fires. This story is similar to other markets in the country such as Kotokoraba market, Market Circle and the Kejetia market. There was fire outbreak in the market occurred on Tuesday, 19 April 2011. [8] Another fire erupted in the market in May 2013. [9]

As the market gets increasingly congested, many traders have aired concerns ranging from expansion works to be done, improved fire safety to prevention of ejection. [10]

The OR Foundation found that a fire was deliberately set by real estate development firm set fire to part of the market in December 2020. [11] The fire was part of a long series of fires at markets in Accra. [12] And the site had experienced a fire 10 months before. [13]

In January 2025, a fire destroyed a significant portion of the market, displacing hundreds of traders. [14] [15] [16]

Redevelopment

In March 2021, the real estate developer Golden Coast Developers announced a partnership with Kantamanto Traders Association and the Ministry of Railway as well as the Railway Development. [17]

In culture

Artist Sel Kofiga documents the cloth trade in the market through upcycling and mixed media art projects. [5] Samuel Oteng organizes a similar upcycling company. [18]

The OR Foundation and artist/activist Liz Ricketts organized an anti-fashion waste art project called "Dead White Man's Clothes" to examine the waste created by the textile import trade. [19] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camden Market</span> Retail markets in London, England

The Camden markets are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as Camden Market or Camden Lock, located in the historic former Pickfords stables, in Camden Town, London. It is situated north of the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent's Canal. Famed for their cosmopolitan image, products sold on the stalls include crafts, clothing, books, bric-a-brac, and fast food. It is the fourth-most popular visitor attraction in London, attracting approximately 250,000 people each week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Used good</span> Item that is not new being sold or transferred

Used goods, also known as secondhand goods, are any item of personal property offered for sale not as new, including metals in any form except coins that are legal tender, but excluding books, magazines, and postage stamps. Used goods may also be handed down, especially among family or close friends, as a hand-me-down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrift store chic</span> Styles of dress where clothes are cheap and/or used

Thrift store chic refers to a style of dressing where clothes are cheap and/or used. Clothes are often purchased from thrift stores such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Value Village. Originally popular among the hippies of the 1960s, this fashion movement resurfaced during the mid-1980s among teenagers, and expanded into the 1990s with the growing popularity of such music and style influences including the grunge band Nirvana. Thrift store chic can be considered as an anti-fashion statement because it does not follow fashion trends and does not attempt to look expensive or new.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast fashion</span> Quick retail copying of catwalk trends

Fast fashion is the business model of replicating recent catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, mass-producing them at a low cost, and bringing them to retail quickly while demand is at its highest. The term fast fashion is also used generically to describe the products of this business model, particularly clothing and footwear. Retailers who employ the fast fashion strategy include Primark, H&M, Shein, and Zara, all of which have become large multinationals by driving high turnover of inexpensive seasonal and trendy clothing that appeals to fashion-conscious consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile recycling</span> Method of reusing or reprocessing used clothing, fibrous material and rags

Textile recycling is the process of recovering fiber, yarn, or fabric and reprocessing the material into new, useful products. Textile waste is split into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste and is sorted into five different categories derived from a pyramid model. Textiles can be either reused or mechanically/chemically recycled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing swap</span> Exchange of used clothes

A clothing swap or CLOSWAP is a type of swapmeet wherein participants exchange their valued but no longer used clothing for clothing they will use. Clothing swaps are considered not only a good way to refill one's wardrobe, but also are considered an act of environmentalism. It is also used to get rid of and obtain specialist clothing. Participants have numerous motivations but also face barriers during swaps. These events are becoming more and more popular for numerous reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upcycling</span> Recycling waste into products of higher quality

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makola Market</span> Historic site in Accra, Ghana

Makola Market is a renowned market place and shopping district in the center of the city of Accra, the capital of Ghana. A wide array of products is sold in the markets and its surrounding streets, from car parts to land snails. Dominated by women traders, the market sells fresh produce, manufactured and imported foods, clothes, shoes, tools, medicines, and pots and pans. Jewellery made from locally handcrafted beads can also be found for sale in the market. About 25% of the 70% market women are employed in Makola Market. All type of school materials such as uniforms, pens books and stationery can also be bought there.

Zero-waste fashion refers to a fashion design strategy, that generates little or no textile waste during the production process, particularly focusing on the pattern making and cutting stages. It is a reaction to the high amount of discarded clothing items going into landfills around the world.

Kotokoraba Market, or Kotokuraba Market, is the largest market in Cape Coast, capital of the Central Region of Ghana, which is the tourism hub of Ghana. Cape Coast is known for many reasons, including for its UN World Heritage Site – Cape Coast Castle – and its senior high schools, and is also popular because of its market. Kotokoraba Market is the economic hub of the region, with all major trading stores located around it. Part of the market has a big transport yard from where various buses and cars transport traders and their wares, as well as individuals, to different parts of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Market, Onitsha</span> Biggest market in Anambra State and West Africa

Main Market, Onitsha is the largest market in Africa based on geographical size and volume of goods. It is based in the city of Onitsha, in Onitsha North Local Government Area, the commercial capital of Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. The town is located on the east bank of the Niger River that joined the Anambra River. The building that made up the main market Onitsha which was regarded as the largest in Nigeria was destroyed during the Nigeria civil war in 1968 and was rebuilt after the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nima, Accra</span> Town in Accra

Nima is a Zongo residential town in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The town is popular because of its market – the Nima market. The name Nima has its etymology from the Ga Language which literally means the "city of the King". Nii means King in the Ga language, while the word city in the same language is mann. There have been a few contrasting views about the name, however, with some pointing to the town's Muslim community to say Nima was a reference to the Arabic word, "Ni'ma", which means blessings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trashy Bags</span> Ghanaian company

Trashy Bags Africa is a commercial venture in Accra, Ghana, which turns plastic waste into reusable shopping bags, fashion accessories, school supplies, and other products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing industry</span> Industry encompassing the design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of clothes

Clothing industry or garment industry summarizes the types of trade and industry along the production and value chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile industry, embellishment using embroidery, via the fashion industry to apparel retailers up to trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. The producing sectors build upon a wealth of clothing technology some of which, like the loom, the cotton gin, and the sewing machine heralded industrialization not only of the previous textile manufacturing practices. Clothing industries are also known as allied industries, fashion industries, garment industries, or soft goods industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact of fashion</span>

The fashion industry, particularly manufacture and use of apparel and footwear, is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic pollution. The rapid growth of fast fashion has led to around 80 billion items of clothing being consumed annually, with about 85% of clothes consumed in United States being sent to landfill.

Sally Esinam Torpey is a Ghanaian fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is also the treasurer for the Greater Accra Chapter of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ambassador from Africa for the Fashion Business Association of America. She has trade missions worldwide which include the United States, United Kingdom and Japan. She is a KYEN member. She is the owner of the Sallet Fashion House Ghana; the Sallet Foundation; and the brands Oheema, The Travelers Custom Made Clothing (TCMC), and JAK Gentle Giant Collection. She is an international speaker with interests in fashion, business, women empowerment, and personal development. She has been featured in publications and magazines like the Afrikan Post, a Washington DC newspaper, Ghana web, Caribbean magazines, The CCWC and Creative Magazine of Miami. She is a case study for Growth Cap UK and others. She is the African presence at the Centre for International Trade Development at the Miami World Trade Centre,where she promotes products from the continent.

Charles Allen Gyimah (1939–2014) was a Ghanaian traditional leader, politician, film maker, and entrepreneur. He was the founder of Video City Limited, a video production company which was situated in Accra and Mampong.

Chloe Asaam is a fashion designer and program manager for the OR Foundation, an organization focused on addressing fast fashion waste in Ghana, such as markets like Kantamanto Market. Her focus is on sustainable and handmade garments that capture the context of Ghana alongside larger fashion trends. She was highlighted by the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Accra, and The Fashion Atlas. She is originally from Kumasi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamale Central Market</span> Market in Tamale

The Tamale Central Market, located in the heart of Tamale, Ghana, is the largest market in northern Ghana. It serves as a hub of commerce and cultural exchange, attracting traders and visitors from all across Ghana. The market offers a wide variety of goods, including traditional crafts, clothing, and local cuisine. There was an outbreak of fire in the market in 1979, and in 1982 the market was burnt down completely. Renovation was done by the then head of state Ft. Jerry Rawlings, and in 2015 by President John Mahama.

Priya Ahluwalia is a British-Indian-Nigerian fashion designer and founder of the apparel brand Ahluwalia. She gained notability for her approach to sustainable fashion. Ahluwalia’s work focuses on upcycling, ethical practices, and exploring identity through multiculturalism.

References

  1. 1 2 Okoye, Victoria. "After Market Fire: Opportunity for Participatory Planning | Smart Cities Dive". www.smartcitiesdive.com. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  2. ↑ Heidger, Tara. "Fast fashion? No thanks. I care about our planet Earth". news-decoder.com/. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  3. 1 2 "The Horrifying True Cost Of Fashion Fashion". Marie Claire. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  4. ↑ "Used clothes choke both markets and environment in Ghana". Hindustan Times. 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ghana's Used Clothing Market Falters as COVID Bans, Poverty Intersect". VOA. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  6. ↑ Fire guts parts of Kantamanto Market | Citi Newsroom , retrieved 2022-04-22
  7. ↑ "Kantamanto fire outbreak: We're not surprised, our market was set ablaze - Traders claim". GhanaWeb. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  8. ↑ "Fire destroys shops, wares at Kantamanto market". Joy Online. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011.
  9. ↑ Oteng-Ababio, Martin; Sarfo, Kwadwo Ohene; Owusu-Sekyere, Ebenezer (June 2015). "Exploring the realities of resilience: Case study of Kantamanto Market fire in Accra, Ghana". International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 12: 311–318. doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2015.02.005.
  10. ↑ "Kantamanto traders appeal for suspension of ejection by the GRDA". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  11. ↑ "How one community in Ghana is bearing the burden of the UK's clothing waste crisis -". gal-dem. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  12. ↑ "Timeline of market fires for Ghana in 2020". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  13. ↑ "Fire destroys Kantamanto market". The Ghana Report. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  14. ↑ "Fire destroys Kantamanto Market, displaces hundreds of traders". MyJoyOnline. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  15. ↑ "Fire ravages Kantamanto market, several shops destroyed". 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  16. ↑ Effah, Evans (2025-01-02). "Kantamanto Market Fire: Over 100 shops destroyed (Video)" . Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  17. ↑ Ayamga, Emmanuel (2020-12-20). "Kantamanto market to be redeveloped into modern shopping centre". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  18. ↑ "This Is What Actually Happens To Your Donated Clothes". Highsnobiety. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  19. ↑ "This Is Not Your Goldmine. This Is Our Mess". Highsnobiety. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  20. ↑ "A conversation with Liz Ricketts". Denier. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.