A new report by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Germany has exposed the alarming environmental and public health crisis caused by the global second-hand clothing trade in Ghana.
The report, titled “Fast Fashion, Slow Poison: The Toxic Textile Crisis in Ghana,” highlights how beaches and other areas across the country have become dumping grounds for discarded clothing, primarily from the Global North’s fast fashion industry.
According to the report, approximately 15 million items of clothing are shipped to Ghana every week, with nearly half of them being unsellable. These unwanted clothes often end up in informal dumpsites, including beaches, or are burned in public spaces, causing severe contamination of air, soil, and water resources. The situation poses a grave threat to the health of local communities.
Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s Pan-African Plastics Lead, described the crisis as a form of environmental injustice.
“This report is a wake-up call. The toxic waste dumped in Ghana is not just an environmental issue, it is a stark example of environmental injustice recklessly carried out by the Global North. Fashion brands and governments must take immediate responsibility for the damage their waste is causing in countries like Ghana,” Dena stated.
Sam Quashie-Idun, the report’s author, emphasized the broader implications of the crisis.
“The evidence we have collected shows that the fast fashion industry is not just a fashion issue—it’s a public health crisis. The clothes we tested are literally poisoning the people of Accra,” he warned.
Quashie-Idun also pointed out that the situation in Ghana is reflective of a neocolonial mindset, where the Global North profits from overproduction and waste, while countries like Ghana suffer the consequences.
“It’s time for a global treaty that addresses this imbalance and protects communities from the harm caused by fast fashion,” he added.
Greenpeace Africa is calling for urgent action to address the crisis.
“We call for a ban on the importation of dead waste. The Ghanaian government must take urgent legislative action to stop the importation of textile waste from the Global North. The government should only import clothes that can actually be reused as wearable clothing. Fashion brands must be held accountable for the full lifecycle of their products, including waste disposal and recycling, under a global EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility),” Dena urged.
Quashie-Idun further stressed the need for local solutions.
“The Ghanaian government, together with the international community, should support the development of a sustainable local textile industry in Ghana, which can alleviate the waste problem while providing economic opportunities,” he said.
Greenpeace Africa urges the Global North to listen to the voices of the people in Ghana and collaborate on solutions that are fair, sustainable, and free from exploitation, in order to end the toxic legacy of fast fashion waste on Ghana’s beaches and communities.