The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has announced its intention to stage a nationwide protest in solidarity with secondhand clothing dealers, amid what it describes as a deliberate campaign to dismantle the industry.
This follows a strike action declared by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association on Thursday, in response to what they call sustained defamatory statements and publications by the OR Foundation—an organization known for its criticism of Ghana’s thriving secondhand clothing trade.
Speaking at a press briefing on April 10, 2025, GUTA President Dr. Joseph Obeng emphasized that the union will not stand idle while efforts are made to undermine a sector that provides employment for thousands and drives informal sector commerce.
He described the planned demonstration as a show of unity and resistance against attempts to discredit and collapse the trade.
“We are calling for accountability. We demand a forensic audit into these activities, and we call on the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministry of the Interior to act because this issue could lead to a serious security problem.
The division among traders is concerning, and if care is not taken, it could result in major conflict, which we are determined to avoid,” Dr. Obeng said.
He added that: “The government must step in as early as possible, or we will call for a nationwide demonstration. That will not benefit anyone, as it would mean all sectors of trade joining us in supporting our brothers and sisters in the secondhand clothing industry to fight against this fraudulent grouping that is sowing seeds of discontent among us”
