The leadership of Kantamanto Market has publicly rejected assertions made by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA), describing them as misleading and unrepresentative of the true voices within the market.
In a statement issued by the market leadership, they reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, sustainability, and their ongoing partnership with The OR Foundation.
According to the Kantamanto Market leadership, GUCDA represents only a small segment of the secondhand clothing trade—mainly importers—and not the diverse community of small-scale retailers, head porters (kayayei), tailors, upcyclers, and resellers who drive the market’s daily operations.
“GUCDA does not represent us,” the leadership emphasized, reiterating a previous public declaration and calling on the media and development stakeholders to make this distinction clear.
The leadership also expressed strong support for The OR Foundation, highlighting its years of collaboration with Kantamanto retailers. They noted that The OR Foundation has earned the community’s trust through consistent support, including fire recovery aid, upcycling training, public health initiatives, and research carried out in partnership with market workers.
“Their estimate that around 40% of clothing that enters the market becomes waste is not misinformation—it is an accurate reflection of our daily experience,” the leadership asserted.
They explained that traders often have no control over the contents of imported clothing bales, which frequently contain torn, stained, outdated, or excess items that are difficult or impossible to sell.
“Waste is not a smear campaign—it is the reality we confront every day,” the leadership said, dismissing GUCDA’s suggestion that the issue was an attack on livelihoods.
The leadership emphasised that the waste problem was systemic, stemming from overproduction in the Global North.
“Kantamanto and Ghana are not dumping grounds by choice, but by design. The global fashion system creates this imbalance, and until that is addressed, local traders will continue to bear the burden,” they said.
Responding to GUCDA’s claim that their strike action represented the interests of Kantamanto traders, the leadership strongly disagreed noting that prominent individuals featured in GUCDA’s campaign were importers and not the traders who deal with the day-to-day labor and risks of selling secondhand clothes.
“We reject any effort to erase the voices of those who work hardest to sustain this market,” the statement said, adding that attempts to incite protests were undermining the progress being made through local and international collaboration.
The leadership declared that Kantamanto Market remained open and active despite recent challenges, including a devastating fire earlier in the year.
They credited The OR Foundation for providing essential support such as construction materials and emergency financial aid to over 9,000 people.
“Our resilience is strong, and our market is vibrant. We welcome all partners who want to trade, collaborate, and invest in a sustainable future,” the statement concluded.
