E-waste in Ghana.
Ghana which has been viewed as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, has recently been getting bad press as the dumping ground for electronics waste. According to Greenpeace, “The latest place where we have discovered high tech toxic trash causing horrendous pollution in Ghana. Our analysis of samples taken from two electronic waste (e-waste) scrap yards in Ghana has revealed severe contamination with hazardous chemicals.”
There is an international treaty that was designed to make the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries illegal. This treaty, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal was also intended to ensure environmentally sound management of toxic wastes. In spite of the lofty goals of the convention, corrupt traders whose only motive is profit by any means, even if it means death to the young boys who breath the toxic fumes in Agbogbloshie market in Accra, Ghana. By the way, the United States has not ratified the Basel convention. For a seemingly environmentally conscious president like Barak Obama, it should be a priority to ratify the convention. Can the U.S. ratify the Basel convention? Yes, it can.
Realizing that Obama’s trip to Ghana was more symbolic than substantive, it is understandable that there was not enough time ( less than 24 hours) for President John Atta mills to have raised all the issues of concern to Ghana. Yet, during the bilateral meeting and breakfast with President Obama, was e-waste dumping in Ghana by western nations including the U.S. discussed as an issue? If not, the leadership in Ghana has lost a historical opportunity to show the leader of the most powerful country on earth, how the west is again committing a crime on Africa. Had President Obama seen the e-waste dump in Accra, Ghana, I am sure he would have been emotionally affected as he was during his visit to Cape Coast Castle.
Dumping of toxic waste within the environs of Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra, has attracted international concern, as it should. The challenge is for the leadership in Ghana to be able to respond to this environmental menace.
In his speech in Ghana, President Obama said, “Africa’s future is up to Africans,” he also said, “Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long,” “That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.” Very true.
In order for Africans to “unlock Africa’s potential”, the U.S. and other Western nations would have to stop being part of all interferences that actually hinder the progress of Africa.
Professor Mekonen Haddis
Dear Prof Haddis,
On the said article on environmental waste disposal in Ghana in WORDPRESS I have to inform you that, it is my govt’s policy is to ensure a filth free capital. There are on-going facelift activities which are, without doubt, some of the conditions that we are ensuring for Ghana as an attractive tourist destination, which will generally increase the numbers of tourists and other investments into the country, using Accra as the gateway.
The current govt is also assiduously working to continue and improve upon from where the previous one left off. The challenge, however, is being tackled in a more comprehensive manner. Infact our govt answer to the e-waste management challenge is not only for the market at Agbogbloshie in Accra, but in various parts of Accra, and all across the country, where there is e-waste matter to be addressed, our Ministry of Local Government is gradually addressing it in tandem with the various District Assemblies.
With Accra specifically, I can say that the Accra Metropolitan Authority is seriously conidering measures to address the envirornmental challenges.
Thank you.
Embassy of Ghana
Mr. Francis Addo
Minister/Commercial
Dear Mr. Francis Addo
I’m actually a student from France. I’m making my research and information gathering for my Thesis. And it’s being really difficult to find any information about the situation of the e-waste in your country. And I inferred that maybe you can help me a lot giving me some recommendations and orientation in my search for answers.
I need to know why the Government of Ghana is not fighting actively against the e-waste shipping from USA and EU that is literally killing and poisoning your children. We need to find answers. Is the government involved? is it receiving any benefit from this situation? If I’m to far from what I suspect, can you give me some concrete actions that your government is already implementing on order to save your people, and your environment?
I’m really worry about the future of your country, just because I have social consciousness. We even have some ideas of projects that maybe could help your country and maybe to others to solve this damage to our lives.
Best regards.
Please, answer…
How are people suppose to grow when they’re being purposely hindered by foreign government who it seems only wants to see Africans suffer and for no other reason than that we are Black, like no other human. Does it really make us that less human?
I see it and I I read it… But I find it hard to actually comprehend, swallow and digest! I can’t fathom what we are doing to the people of the world when we ignore and try to substantiate the arrogant nature of Countries such as the USA (and I would not necessarily find it difficult to beleive that Canada and other Countries are on the same train or bandwagon and doing the same thing! People are dying!! Lives are being stollen away before they even become lives! Why? Is it truly just because they can do it, or is it that these Countries just don’t care about people because they are Black, or because it is not them that is threatened, as long as the Dumps are not on Domestic Soils? I know I do not understand it all… But people (Boys, Girls, Babies… Lives!) are dying by these means! That I do understand! How can it be stopped? It is very upsetting to read about!
James F. Tracy
Canada