A devastating fire has ravaged Accra's Kantamanto Market, one of the world's largest secondhand clothing markets, leaving thousands of traders without livelihoods. The blaze, which began in the early hours of January 2, 2025, destroyed over 7,000 shops and affected more than 30,000 traders. The fire reportedly started around 1:19 a.m., quickly consuming large sections of the market. Traders, many of whom had invested their life savings into their businesses, were left sifting through the charred remains of their stalls, hoping to salvage anything of value.
Ama Mensah, a clothing vendor who had been a fixture at the market for over a decade, expressed her devastation: "I have lost everything. All my goods, my savings, everything is gone. I don't know how I will recover from this."
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded promptly, deploying 13 fire tenders to combat the flames. Despite their efforts, the fire caused significant damage, with goods worth millions of Ghanaian cedi destroyed. Alex King Nartey, a GNFS spokesperson, stated, "This is devastating. We've not recorded severe casualties, but the economic loss is enormous."
Preliminary investigations suggest that faulty electrical connections might have sparked the blaze, although authorities have not ruled out arson. Kantamanto Market plays a crucial role in the global secondhand clothing industry, handling approximately 15 million garments weekly. The market supports the livelihoods of about 30,000 people, including traders, upcyclers, and other market members.
In response to the disaster, The OR Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with vendors in Kantamanto, has committed $1 million for relief efforts and set up a fund for donations to support those impacted. You can find more information about how to help and donate here.
The fire has highlighted the urgent need for improved infrastructure and fire safety measures in the market. Traders have called on the government to assist in rebuilding efforts and to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
As cleanup operations continue, the community remains resilient, with many traders working together to clear debris and rebuild their stalls. The incident has underscored the importance of supporting sustainable fashion practices and the vital role that markets like Kantamanto play in the global textile economy. You can learn more about the impact of the fire on sustainable fashion here.
