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5 Issue 2 Int'l J.L. Mgmt. & Human. 1679 (2022)
Impact of Second-Hand Clothing Waste in Ghana

handle is hein.journals/ijlmhs16 and id is 1838 raw text is: International Journal of Law) Management & Humanities

Impact of Second-Hand Clothing Waste in
Ghana
AYUSHEE PRIYAI
ABSTRACT
Fast-fashion is a clothing designs that are cheap, trendy and quick. Fast-fashion industry
has expanded rapidly over the years and generated thousands of jobs for the people of
Ghana but it has also turned Ghana into a toxic landfill where the journey of world's
unwanted clothing ends. The 40 percent of the second hand clothing from the western world
arriving in Ghana are unacceptable and results in complete waste. The accumulated textile
waste washes into the ocean bed and chokes the aquatic life creating enormous
environmental impact. The people of Ghana are enforced to live such waste which is
turning their life miserable.
This paper deals with impact of second hand clothing waste in Ghana. The paper will
highlight the issue of waste accumulation in the city of Accra, the capital of Ghana and the
second the hand clothing market which gives employment to the many Ghanaians for their
livelihood. This paper also highlights the issue of environmental disaster it has due to the
world's unwanted clothing culture. It also highlights the effect it has on human beings in
terms of child labour and forced labour. This paper altogether focuses on the issue of
exploitation of human beings and environment due to the second hand clothing culture.
Keywords: Ghana, Fast-fashion, accumulated waste, environmental impact.
I. INTRODUCTION
Fast fashion is a type of clothing which is a process of easily made inexpensive clothes that fits
the changing trend of fashion. Apps like Instagram and retailers advertise these clothes. The
fashion industry is growing continuously which has resulted in growth of landfills charged with
unwanted clothing that is no longer in the trend. As per the studies, 10,000 articles of second
hand clothing are sent every five minutes by United Kingdom, which are ultimately dumped in
Accra due to its damaged and low-quality clothes.
The goods that are shipped to Ghana are effecting the business in the Kantamanto market. The
traders rely on countries like Europe, America and China for second hand clothing which is
either donated or recycled. According to the reports approximately 15 million second hand
1 Author is a student at KIIT School of Law, KIIT-DU, Bhubaneswar, India.
© 2022. International Journal of Law Management & Humanities       [ISSN 2581-5369]

1679

[Vol. 5 Iss 2; 1679]

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