After being gutted by a devastating fire outbreak in January 2025, the Kantamanto Market—the world’s largest hub for secondhand clothing—has officially reopened, marking a major milestone in its recovery.
The reopening ceremony, held on Tuesday, brought together market leaders, traders, traditional rulers, and city authorities, including the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey. The event also witnessed the official launch of the Kantamanto Obroniwawu Businesses Association (KOBA), the first-ever unified body representing all 13 market sections.
KOBA brings together secondhand clothing and footwear retailers, upcyclers, tailors, hairdressers, and other businesses within Kantamanto. Its formation, the culmination of over a year’s effort by market leaders, seeks to strengthen disaster preparedness, champion traders’ interests, and transform leadership from space management to community development.
As part of the recovery process, the market has seen significant safety upgrades, including re-electrification, installation of fire extinguishers, and deployment of a new security force, made possible through a joint effort by KOBA, the Or Foundation, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, with funding support from the Or Foundation.
The Accra-based NGO has played a pivotal role in Kantamanto’s recovery. During the launch, the Or Foundation signed a grant agreement with KOBA, providing GH¢825,000 (US$75,000) in startup funding to build the association’s capacity. This follows over US$3 million in direct relief provided earlier this year to more than 9,000 traders for rebuilding, healthcare, security assessments, and electrification projects.
Speaking on behalf of President John Mahama, Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoh Addo assured traders of government’s continued support, announcing that the National Investment Bank (NIB) will roll out financial assistance packages to help them restart their businesses.
Market leaders and traders hailed the reopening as the dawn of a new era, with KOBA expected to provide a stronger collective voice, oversee safety and cleanliness, and support a more equitable global secondhand trade that allows Kantamanto’s bustling community to thrive.
Source – My News Ghana
