Every week, approximately 15 million pieces of second-hand clothing are imported into Ghana. Startlingly, nearly half of these clothes are unsellable and they end up being dumped in informal landfills or burned in public washhouses. This rampant disposal has led to significant contamination of air, soil, and water resources, endangering the health and well-being of local populations.
The report’s findings are deeply concerning. Air samples collected from public washhouses in Accra’s Old Fadama settlement revealed dangerously high levels of toxic substances, including carcinogens such as benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Additionally, the discarded clothes were found to be composed predominantly of synthetic fibers like polyester, contributing to the spread of microplastics in the environment. The overwhelming accumulation of textile waste is choking natural habitats, polluting rivers, and leading to the formation of ‘plastic beaches’ along Ghana’s coastline.
Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s Pan-African Plastics Lead, called the situation “a wake-up call” and described it as a stark example of environmental injustice inflicted by the Global North. She emphasized the need for immediate accountability, stating that fashion brands and governments must take responsibility for the harm their waste is causing in countries like Ghana.
The report’s author, Sam Quashie-Idun, further highlighted the far-reaching implications of the findings, noting that fast fashion has escalated beyond a fashion industry issue and has now become a public health crisis. Quashie-Idun warned that the clothes being dumped in Accra are literally poisoning the local population. He also criticized the neocolonial mindset that allows the Global North to profit from overproduction and waste while countries like Ghana bear the environmental and health costs.
Greenpeace Africa is urging immediate action to address this escalating crisis. The organization is calling for a ban on the importation of unsellable textile waste and urging the Ghanaian government to introduce legislation that only permits the importation of reusable, wearable clothing. Furthermore, fashion brands must be held accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including their disposal and recycling. Greenpeace has also called for the implementation of a global Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, which would force manufacturers to take responsibility for the waste generated by their products.
In addition to advocating for regulatory reforms, Quashie-Idun stressed the importance of supporting local solutions to the crisis. He called on the Ghanaian government and the international community to invest in the development of a sustainable local textile industry, which could help address the growing waste problem while providing new economic opportunities for the country.
As this report makes clear, the situation in Ghana is not just a localized environmental issue but a global challenge rooted in overproduction and unequal power dynamics. Greenpeace Africa is calling on the Global North to listen to the voices of those affected by textile waste in Ghana and to work collaboratively towards sustainable, just solutions that prioritize the well-being of both people and the planet.\For more information, please contact:
For more information concerning Greenpeace Africa work, kindly email: fomondi@greenpeace.org