The leadership of Kantamanto Market has dismissed claims by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA) that The OR Foundation is attempting to buy and collapse the market.
Describing the assertion as misleading and unrepresentative of the diverse voices within the market, the leadership said the decision by GUCDA to go on strike over the matter was unreasonable.
In a statement, the leadership reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, sustainability, and its ongoing partnership with The OR Foundation, whose work focuses on ending the dumping of used clothing into the ocean.
According to the leadership, GUCDA represents only a small portion of the secondhand clothing trade—mainly importers—and does not speak for the broader community of small-scale retailers, kayayei, tailors, upcyclers, and resellers who drive the daily operations of Kantamanto.
“GUCDA does not represent us,” the statement stressed.
They also expressed strong support for The OR Foundation, citing its years of collaboration with Kantamanto retailers and its consistent commitment to the community through fire recovery assistance, upcycling training, public health initiatives, and research.
The leadership endorsed The OR Foundation’s widely referenced estimate that around 40% of clothing entering the market ends up as waste, calling it an accurate reflection of their daily reality.
They explained that traders often have little control over the contents of imported clothing bales, which frequently contain torn, stained, outdated, or excess garments that are difficult or impossible to sell.
“Waste is not a smear campaign—it is the reality we confront every day,” the statement noted.
The leadership emphasized that the waste problem was not created by the market but by global overproduction, especially from 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.
They also rejected any attempt to silence the voices of those who work hardest to sustain the market.
Despite recent fire destruction, the leadership said the market remains open and active, crediting The OR Foundation for providing essential support including construction materials and emergency financial aid to over 9,000 affected 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.