OR Foundation a non-profit NGO, has refuted claims that it has intentions of buying the Katamanto market, and taking over the business of the secondhand clothing dealers.
The Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association on April 10, 2025 embarked on an industrial action, in protest of what they termed as the continuous smear by the NGO which they contend was threatening their livelihoods.
The association insists that OR Foundation was embarking on a deliberate campaign to dismantle the second hand clothing industry, in order to take over the business.
The leadership of Kantamanto Market has publicly rejected assertions made by the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association describing them as misleading and unrepresentative of the true voices within the market.
However, the President of Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) Dr. Joseph Obeng issued a 21day ultimatum, to the government to investigate and take action against OR Foundation for its defamatory statements and publications against the group, threatening a nationwide protest if government fails to do this.
Reacting to these allegations at a press conference in Accra, the CO founder and executive director of OR Foundation Lyz Ricketts clarified that her outfit has no plans of taking over the Kantomanto market.
“So I want to be again very clear that we have no interest as an NGO, we are not here to buy the market we are here to support the market.
“I also want to be very clear that we have never called for a ban of second hand clothing rather we are calling for better clothing to better clothing to come here. We are calling for better infrastructure.”