The famous Kantamanto Market is located in the central business district of Accra.
It is Ghana’s largest second-hand clothes market.
A walk through the market shows a large number of traders in congested wooden stalls, selling their used clothes and footwear while calling out buyers to patronise their goods.
Other traders have stationed themselves on the pavements and the surrounding streets due to inadequate space in the market. (This is attributed to overpopulation over the years and a mad rush to secure selling points at the Market)
Just at the entrance of the market, other traders could be seen busy selecting the best clothes from a pile of clothing in a heap on the ground (this is how come it is also referred to as the ‘bend down boutique’ because a buyer would literally have to bend down in order to pick clothes of choice).
They can be heard shouting at the top of their voices “one cedi” “five cedis” “monyi no low, monhye no high’, to wit buy at a low price and wear for important occasions, to alert passersby to the prices of their items as a means of drawing customers to them.
The Kantamanto Market was built in the 1960s, where European exporters worked with local importers to move shipping containers full of bales of used clothing into the centre of Accra.
The local importers then worked with middlemen to sell individual bales to retailers, while retailers also engage tailors to alter some garments to fit consumers’ needs.
However, despite the congestion and numerous tragedies experienced by the market, scores of buyers continue to troop to the market due to the affordability and quality of clothing being sold there.
The traders believe the area is the perfect place to trade; the reason hundreds of buyers troop in every day to purchase their goods.
The market also now serves as a huge source for young people who go to the market very early in the morning to select the best clothes and bargain for a good price.
They then use social media to sell their clothes to corporate workers who may not be able to visit the Kantamanto Market to shop.
What is the meaning of the word “Kantamanto”?
It is a Twi word (of Akan Vocabulary) with such a powerful meaning.
Twi is a language spoken by the Akan tribe in Ghana.
It is a three syllabic word:
“Ka-ntam-anto”.
“Ka” in Twi means “Speak or Say”. “Ntam” also means “To swear or make a serious promise” and lastly “anto” means “does not go against”.
Putting all together what the word “Kantamanto” means is:
“he who swears does not go against his word.”
Since the Market was established at the time of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who was seen as “the one who says and does!” It was befitting to give that accolade to the Market to remind Ghanaians what he promised and did!
Legend has it that in Ghanaian traditional setting, the King or Chief who swears cannot go against what is spoken.
(akin to the laws of the ancient Medo Persians)
In other words, once he swears or makes a promise he cannot change his mind.
He cannot “ka” (Say)-“ntam”(swear)-“anto”(and go against it).
Our God is “Kantamanto”! He doesn’t change. He is immutable. That is His character. He says in Isaiah 46: 11 NIV” From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do”
