The New Year celebrations had barely ended when the fire started. In the early hours of 2 January 2025, flames spread through Kantamanto market in central Accra, where thousands of traders sell second-hand clothing imported from Europe, North America and Asia. By morning, large parts of the market lay in ashes. Traders who had stocked up for the new year lost everything, and the disaster became one of the biggest market fires in Accra’s history.
Kantamanto and the fire
Kantamanto is one of the largest second-hand clothing markets in the world. Bales of used clothes, known locally as obroni wawu, are opened, sorted and sold there. The fire began in the early hours and spread quickly through densely packed stalls and wooden structures. The Ghana National Fire Service battled the blaze for hours. Access was difficult because of narrow lanes and crowded stalls.
Thousands of traders lost their stalls and goods. Many had taken loans to buy stock.
Workers, government and the global trade
Beyond traders, porters, tailors, washers and others who depend on the market lost their livelihoods. The government and city authorities promised support for affected traders and plans to rebuild. The fire renewed concerns about fire safety in Accra’s markets, which have suffered repeated fires. Markets such as Makola and Kantamanto have burned before, often with heavy losses.
Traders began clearing debris and returning to trade, some under temporary shelters. The fire drew international attention to Kantamanto’s role in the global trade in used clothing. Kantamanto is also at the centre of debates about textile waste, as unsold clothes end up in landfills and on beaches.
Lessons and how the trade works
Fire experts urged better electrical safety, fire hydrants and access routes in markets. Bales of clothes arrive through Tema port and are bought by traders who open them without knowing exactly what is inside. The best items are sold quickly, and the rest are sold cheaply or discarded. This gamble makes the business risky, and the fire added to the losses of traders already working on thin margins.
Organisations that study the global clothing trade raised money and drew attention to the traders’ plight. Kantamanto’s traders give the world’s discarded clothes a second life. In January 2025, many of them had to start again from nothing.
