Before I watched the below documentary which was aired on BBC 2 on Monday-14th July, 2014 in the UK, I read several pre-showing articles on MailOnline, The Telegraph and others, claiming Ghanaian traders were able to make up to £25,000 a day from second hand clothing from UK charity shops.
I didn’t want to miss the showing because I wanted to find out how people were making such huge amount, and probably become a second hand clothing-Obroni Wawo dealer too.
But my curiosity landed me in a deep pit of sadness, watching once again how our preference for everything foreign including clothes was fetching us a world shame was not easy—more importantly, how our local textiles industry has almost been killed by the second hand clothing industry.
It is estimated that, Ghana imports 30,000 tonnes of second hand clothes each year, much of which arrives in Accra. We’ve not only by choice turned our homes into dumping grounds but by choice killed our own textile industry.
Just like many other developed countries, the UK spends £60bn a year on new clothes and much of these clothes which are discarded ends up in high street charity shops—on subsequent route to Accra, Ghana.
The documentary did more than justice to the issue, taking it from the city into the villages and back into the city, with a touch on the happiness the world of second clothing brings to some of the poorest people in the world-Ghanaians, as well as the obvious negative effects second hand clothing has on our textile industry, history and culture.
Speaking to the BBC presenter, Steve Dutton, the overseer at the Akasombo Textiles factory which employs about 2000 people mentioned that “in 2009, we were producing two million metres of cloth a month, and over that period, it’s gone down by 75 per cent” He added that, “It’s quite an urgent situation and we’re on the brink of saying, we can’t go on.”.
Ironically, it came to light that the textile factory is somewhat alive because of DEATHS—the factory’s textiles are largely patronized by Ghanaians for funeral purposes and nothing more…
Apart from the unending negative effects of second clothing in Ghana on the local textiles industry, the second hand clothing industry was cited as a silent killer of our rich culture and history.
Mr. Ode Bonsu, a Ghanaian historian said “We were trained, even when I was young, to believe that everything western was civilised. Our belief and respect for our own things has faded to the point where if we are not very careful, some day somewhere, we will not see our own things any more.
These days, everybody is keeping an English name in addition to his own name. And they prefer being called their western name to their own name.
That alone should tell you. The food that we eat has changed. We now eat western food as much as our own food. It is killing our culture.”
Once again, our culture, history, mindset and high taste for everything foreign has been questioned—not only that, it has been pointed out to us by the BBC that, we are killing everything that makes us Ghanaians…
Let me add that, I love Ade Adepitan-the presenter…He is full of energy and smiles!
Watch the Documentary below and tell us what you think…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmyns6U6Luw
I must say this has been a very interesting documentary to watch.. I have really been amazed and surprised by what I have seen here. Like the presenter said there are definitely pros and cons to this business….. definitely jobs have been provided to the a large number of Ghanaians, however the downward toll its taken on our Ghanaian textile industry is chilling.
I have patronized these second clothes before and I still do…. I however mix them up with my local African wear as well. Cost is a big factor as most of our traditional clothes are actually expensive in comparison and I do identify with some of the people that were interviewed.
We must all take steps to revive our dying textile industry as well as other aspects of our culture which we are gradually loosing.
Very good piece and kudos to the presenter.. Great job done.
Yeah, very educating piece. Amazing yet sad!
This is why I love GC because you guys know what to post that educates the readers. I watched the whole video with my mouth opened. Sometimes we behave so sad how can people be fighting over the rejected clothes of the white man? Someone said he prefers the obroni waw) to the even the local ones because he wants to be unique? eiii Ghanaians.
25,000 pounds a day is a lot of money, imagine that was being pumped into our local textile industries. Hmmmm sad life of Ghanaians
this is sicking. can’t imagine that this cloths were given to charity. all the same a feel soo sad cos i just saw kofi ansah and the funeral ground of Ronnie. hmm how time flies.
awwww, I loved watching this documentary. My mom deals in secondhand clothes in bales at K.O (Ash-Town) 😀
Can people wear African print clothes 24/7? I guess not, thats why there will always be broni wawu. Plus secondhand clothes are affordable.
The presenter is very lively.
So you do not see there is anything wrong with this second hand clothes because your mother does it too? It is a disgrace so please help her to stop doing that business. Aba
Can you be honest with yourself and tell me if you have never bought second hand clothes before?
Of course there’s something wrong with it but there’s always the advantages & disadvantages and like I said earlier on, people can’t wear our traditional prints 24/7. Having said that, not everyone in GH can afford to buy cloth and pay for sewing so obviously someone may need the second hand clothes.
And you are talking about it being a disgrace, my dear I don’t see any disgraceful thing there.
I have worn second hand clothes a lot..lol. Second hand clothes always have that distinct smell. What chemicals do they use to preserve the clothes? What are the long and short term side effects of these chemicals? Hmm God help us all
Omg I’m so in love with this documentary. I think we as Ghanaians should change our mindset and attitude towards students studying vocational skills . They are often perceived to be so unintelligent cos we need good fashion designers. Whereas much of this problem depends on the textile industry I also think we lack good designers.The few best ones we have charge exorbitant prices . It said to watch the dirt surrounding us too. I feel so much ashamed. I pray our nation develops fast. What we Ghanaians do best is to talk too much and we don’t walk our talk.
Wow!!! A country with so much natural wealth, and its people live in such abject poverty…do we have any leaders with common sense in this country?
Ade is very lively.
Well, we still have a long way to go. The only way we can get more people to wear our textiles is if more people can afford it. Again it all comes back unemployment and poverty.