A massive fire swept through the Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, on January 2, 2025, destroying hundreds of stalls and upending the livelihoods of thousands of traders. The market, one of the largest secondhand clothing hubs in the world, was engulfed in flames during the early morning hours, leaving behind widespread devastation but no reported injuries or fatalities.
The Ghana National Fire Service announced on Friday that the blaze had been fully extinguished and that investigations were underway to determine its cause. Videos shared by the fire service on social media showed large sections of the market consumed by roaring flames, as firefighters worked to bring the situation under control.
Secondhand shoe dealer Kwabena Charles, one of the affected traders, recounted the harrowing experience to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). “I was at home when one of my workers called and told me to come to the market quickly. By the time I got there at 3 a.m., everything was gone,” Charles said, lamenting the loss of his goods, which were worth a significant amount of money.
Efforts by traders to salvage merchandise proved futile as the fire spread rapidly, consuming rows of tightly packed market stalls. Aerial images captured the charred remains of the market, with traders picking through the debris in an effort to recover anything of value.
Richard Amo Yartey, Director of Inspectorate at Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization, visited the site on Thursday to console the affected traders. “It’s quite unfortunate that this happened at a time when we should be celebrating the New Year,” Yartey said, according to GNA. “But this is not the end of life. We are working to provide support to those impacted and to help them rebuild their businesses.”
The Kantamanto Market, a sprawling hub for secondhand clothing and textiles, employs an estimated 30,000 people, according to Greenpeace. The market processes millions of used clothing items, primarily imported from Western countries, making it a vital economic lifeline for many in Accra and beyond.
This is not the first time the market has been struck by fire. Previous incidents have raised concerns about safety standards and the vulnerability of the area’s extensive network of stalls, many of which are constructed from highly flammable materials.
The latest fire has reignited calls for improved fire prevention measures and better infrastructure to protect traders and their goods. As authorities investigate the cause of the blaze, many traders are left grappling with the uncertainty of how to recover from the financial losses incurred.
“It’s devastating,” said another trader, sifting through the ashes of what was once her stall. “We’ve lost everything, and we don’t know where to start.”
The Kantamanto Market fire serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by informal trading hubs in Ghana and across the continent, where economic reliance on such markets often clashes with inadequate infrastructure and safety measures. For now, the focus remains on supporting the thousands of traders displaced by the disaster and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future.