The Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association – Accra Chapter has outlined a planned strike action set for Thursday, April 10, 2025, in protest against what it describes as continuous defamatory reports by the OR Foundation.
In a strongly worded statement, the Association accused the OR Foundation of spreading false and damaging narratives about the used clothing trade in Ghana, particularly the operations at Kantamanto Market.
According to the group, the Foundation has consistently portrayed the secondhand clothing industry in a negative light, ignoring the sector’s critical role in job creation, poverty alleviation, and providing sustainable livelihoods for thousands of Ghanaians.
“The OR Foundation’s continuous misrepresentation of the Kantamanto Market is unacceptable and must stop,” – the Association declared.
The strike, described as a peaceful protest, will see all used clothing dealers in Accra, especially those in the Kantamanto enclave, suspend trading activities for the day. The move, the group says, is aimed at drawing national attention to what they consider a coordinated campaign to discredit their work and undermine the reputation of the country.
The Association outlined four key objectives of the strike action:
– To demand an end to defamatory statements from the OR Foundation
– To defend the dignity and livelihood of used clothing traders
– To safeguard the image of Ghana, both locally and internationally
– To call for responsible and factual reporting on the used clothing trade
“We are peaceful traders, but we will not sit silently as our industry and country are unfairly attacked,” the statement emphasized.
The group urged the media and stakeholders to support their cause by verifying facts from credible sources and encouraged journalists to cover the April 10 protest peacefully.
The strike is expected to disrupt commercial activity at one of Accra’s busiest trading hubs and could reignite the national conversation around the secondhand clothing industry and its impact on Ghana’s economy and environment.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com| Ebenezer Madugu