Day 82: What can Ghana do with 7mn unsellable clothes a week?

9/14/2024

Day 82: What can Ghana do with 7mn unsellable clothes a week?

Ghana receives about 15mn items of clothing weekly, but nearly half of these are deemed unsellable, says a new report by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Germany.

The report, “Fast Fashion, Slow Poison: The Toxic Textile Crisis in Ghana”, uncovers the devastating effects of discarded clothing, much of it originating from the Global North, on Ghana’s environment and communities.

The unusable garments often end up in informal dumpsites or are burned in public washhouses, leading to significant air, soil, and water contamination. This pollution is directly endangering the health of local communities.

One of the report’s key findings is the high level of air pollution caused by the burning of these discarded clothes. Greenpeace conducted air sampling in Accra’s Old Fadama settlement, revealing dangerously high levels of toxic substances in indoor air, including carcinogens like benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This indicates a direct threat to public health, with the population being exposed +- harmful chemicals.

Additionally, the report highlights the pervasive issue of plastic pollution. Infrared testing of discarded clothing found that nearly 90% of these garments are made from synthetic fibres like polyester, contributing to the spread of microplastics in the environment. This not only smothers natural habitats and pollutes rivers but has also led to the formation of ‘plastic beaches’ along Ghana’s coastline.

“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,” said Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s pan-African plastics lead.

She called on fashion brands and governments to take immediate responsibility for the damage their waste is causing in countries like Ghana.

“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,” said the report’s author, Sam Quashie-Idun.

“The situation in Ghana reflects a neocolonial mindset where the Global North profits from overproduction and waste, wi V countries like Ghana pay the price.”

In response to this crisis, Greenpeace Africa’s campaigners are advocating for both immediate and long-term measures. They are calling for a ban on the importation of “dead waste” and urging the Ghanaian government to enact urgent legislative action to stop the importation of textile waste from the Global North. Dena insisted that only clothes that can be reused as wearable clothing should be imported, and that fashion brands must be held accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products under a global Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Everything I wore on Day 82 of the 90 days of Shein challenge: