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Secondhand Clothing Dealer Opposes Import Ban Calls

Date:

May 21, 2026

An Executive Member of the Ghana Second Hand Clothing Association, Marvin Owusu, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the textile sector to address challenges relating to textile waste and sustainability rather than advocating for a ban on secondhand clothing imports.
Speaking during the Landfills to Landmarks 2026 conference in Accra, Mr. Owusu said the conference was necessary because it brought together key stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to issues affecting textiles and textile waste management.
According to him, the secondhand clothing trade plays a vital role in Ghana’s economy by supporting livelihoods, generating employment, and contributing significant tax revenue to the state. http://al jazeera
He explained that the industry supports about 2.5 million livelihoods, with women making up about 52 percent of participants, while nearly 40 percent are young people.

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“It also generates around 35 million dollars annually in taxes for the Ghanaian government,” he stated.
Mr. Owusu noted that the trade has become a generational business for many families, ensuring economic continuity from one generation to another.
On environmental sustainability, he stressed that secondhand clothing contributes significantly to textile circularity through the reuse and re-wearing of clothes, which helps extend the lifespan of garments and delays their disposal at landfills.
He, however, challenged claims that up to 40 percent of imported secondhand clothing ends up as waste, describing such figures as misleading and inaccurate.
According to him, several empirical studies conducted since 2023 by independent researchers, Oxford Economics, GIZ, and other institutions indicate that actual textile waste levels are closer to between two and five percent.
“There is a need for a global consensus on what exactly constitutes textile waste because different countries define waste differently,” he said.
Mr. Owusu argued that waste should only refer to items that cannot be reused, worn, or repurposed and must be discarded completely.
He further explained that some issues often described as waste are actually linked to pricing challenges, exchange rate fluctuations, and varying perceptions of quality among exporters, importers, and retailers.
He warned that wrong perceptions about the secondhand clothing trade could lead to inappropriate policies and ineffective solutions.
Mr. Owusu strongly opposed calls to ban secondhand clothing imports into Ghana and Africa, insisting that such a move would destroy both economic and environmental ecosystems.
“If you ban secondhand clothing, you are killing an ecosystem tied to textile circularity and opening the door for ultra-cheap fast fashion to flood Ghana,” he cautioned.
He added that the challenges facing local textile manufacturers are mainly due to high production costs, including expensive utilities and energy, rather than competition from secondhand clothing.
He maintained that allowing both local and secondhand clothing markets to coexist creates healthy competition and ultimately benefits consumers through better value and choice.
Mr. Owusu expressed optimism that continued engagements among stakeholders would help create common standards on quality, waste management, and policy direction for the textile industry.

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