Ghana’s Cabinet minister speaks about e-waste at Climate Change meeting

Importation of obsolete computers and e-waste has featured at the on-going climate change meeting in Ghana.

Ghana is currently hosting the United Nations Climate Change Talks in the capital Accra, where over 100 delegates from across the world are meeting to discuss ways of dealing with the challenges of climate change.

Speaking to delegates at the Talks Thursday August 21, 2008, Ghana's Local Government and Environment Minister, Kwadwo Adjei Darko, said old computers are being imported into Ghana and these importations have resulted in hazardous e-waste in the country.

He appealed to exporting countries to stop using Africa as a dumping ground.

Ghana has become a dumping ground for obsolete electronics equipment including computers. Studies by independent environmental groups and individuals have revealed that tons of broken down computers are shipped into Ghana through various means. It has also been found out that these computers are sometimes given to institutions like schools, hospitals and NGOs, but they never work and are sold out or thrown away to be used as scrap.

Two dump sites have been located in Koforidua in the Eastern region and Agbogbloshie in the capital Accra where obsolete and broken-down computers are dismantled, monitors broken and insulated cables burned to extract valuable copper wires for sale.

Most of the people found at the sites do not use any protective gear and they do not adhere to any safety measures as they go about their work.

The statement by the Cabinet Minister, further confirms the fact that the government of Ghana is now waking up to calls to act to control and possibly curb the importation of obsolete electronics equipment into the country, and act accordingly about the e-waste problem.

It is hoped that government action would not only end up in rhetoric, but real action, to stem the eminent danger that e-waste poses to the country's environment and human health.