Accra, the epicenter of the second-hand clothing trade in West Africa, has been hit by tragedy. A fire on an unprecedented scale engulfed the Kantamanto market, the largest second-hand clothing market in Africa. The fire, which occurred on the night of January 1 to 2, caused considerable losses for thousands of traders and left an entire community devastated.
The Or Foundation, an Accra-based charity, described the event as the “worst disaster” in 15 years. The flames destroyed over 60% of the retail area, leaving thousands of people unemployed and without a livelihood.
The Or Foundation works at the crossroads of environmental justice, education and fashion development. And its core mission is to identify and realize alternatives to the dominant fashion model. Its ambition is to find alternatives that bring ecological prosperity, as opposed to destruction, and inspire citizens to forge a relationship with fashion that goes beyond their role as mere consumers.
Immediate mobilization
Faced with the scale of the disaster, The Or Foundation mobilized immediately. Teams were deployed in the field to assess the damage, support the stricken merchants and organize clean-up operations. The organization also launched an appeal for donations to help rebuild the market and support the victims.
A blow for African fashion
The Kantamanto market was much more than just a place to shop. It was a veritable ecosystem where designers, stylists and retailers came to draw inspiration and find unique treasures. This fire is therefore a loss not only for the merchants, but also for the entire African fashion scene.
How can we help?
If you would like to support the victims of this fire, you can :
- Make a donation: Donations can be made via Mobile Money +233(0)559852625) or on the Donorbox platform via the kantamanto.theor.org page .
- Share information: Distribute this information widely to raise awareness among as many people as possible.
Photo credit: © Nipah Dennis, AFP
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