Developing a sustainable second-hand clothing tracer in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana is flooded by the excessive importation of low-grade second-hand clothes (SHC) from America, Europe and Asia. The second-hand clothing trade, which is mainly undertaken in the Kantamanto market within the central business district of Accra, Ghana is unsustainable. This situation has not been given significant attention by successive governments, state agencies and city officials making it an under researched area. 
This research aims to develop a conceptual understanding of a sustainable second-hand clothing trade based on the integration of the three essential dimensions that traverse sustainable development; (economic, environmental and social). The sustainable developments of the second-hand clothing trade hinges on effective regulation and reuse and recycling systems (a Three-R framework) to advance the economic growth of the trade, and to promote healthy commercial environments and the social well-being of both traders and consumers. The research critically examines theories on sustainable development, waste management hierarchy, development of the second-hand clothing trade and contemporary global second-hand clothing trade practices to create a conceptual framework for the sustainable development of the second-hand clothing trade in Ghana. 
The research employs a qualitative approach for collecting data through semi-structured interviews and participant observations from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) U.K., the Textiles Recycling Association (TRA) U.K., the Kantamanto Used Clothes Sellers Association in Ghana, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), the Ministry of Railways Development, and the second-hand clothing importers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers within the Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana. The emergent themes from the empirical data were categorised in accordance with the research questions and literature reviewed, and constantly analysed using comparisons and reliability checks. The research contributes to knowledge by presenting a conceptual framework that bridges the existing gap in the sustainable development of the Ghanaian second-hand clothing trade.

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