1. E-waste Programmes in Ghana
Presented at the International E-waste
Collaboration (Ghana – Netherlands)
By:
John A. Pwamang, Director, Chemicals
Control and Management Centre, EPA-
Ghana
Cindy Badoe, Deputy Director, Built
Environment Department EPA-Ghana
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2. Presentation outline
Introduction
The e-waste situation in Ghana
Programmes aimed at addressing the
problem
Draft Strategy for Control and
Management of E-Waste in Ghana
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3. Introduction
The international trade in second hand goods has
led to massive imports of near end-of –life
electrical and electronic equipment into Ghana
and other developing countries in Africa and Asia
These near end-of-life equipment become waste
within a short time
E-waste has therefore become one of the major
waste management challenges in Ghana
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4. E-waste situation in Ghana (1)
The legal framework on importation of second hand
goods is incapable of controlling the influx of end-of-life
and near-end-life electrical and electronic equipment
A lot of E-waste are generated locally by various
institutions, repair shops, industries and households due
power fluctuations in the country and other factors,
reducing the lifespan equipment.
There are no formal E-waste collection systems and the
informal sector use “push cart boys” who move long
distances within the city to collect E-waste
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5. E-waste situation in Ghana (2)
Recycling is done predominantly by the
informal sector using crude methods
leading serious adverse health and
environmental effects
Some E-wastes are also indiscriminately
disposed leading to pollution of water
bodies and contamination of soil.
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6. Statement of the Problem (1)
Lack of coordinated approach for collection,
transport, storage and disposal of e-waste.
Difficulty in establishing the key players
engaged in the informal trade and recovery of
materials from e-waste.
Data on the adverse impacts of e-waste on
human health and the environment is limited
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7. Statement of the Problem (2)
Lack of controls of imports of used
electrical and electronic equipment
Education and awareness creation
programmes are inadequate
Inadequate facilities for final disposal of
the hazardous portions of E-waste
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8. Statement of the Problem (3)
Lack of knowledge and skills in proper
sorting and collection of E-waste
No guidance manuals to provide a framework
or basis for national plans to address e-waste
Lack of policies and legislative framework to
address current e-waste problems.
No comprehensive collection and recycling
services for e-waste
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14. Recovered wires
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15. Dumping on the banks of Korle
Lagoon, Accra
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17. The Ghana E-Waste Programme
To conduct an assessment of the country situation of e-
waste, develop national policies for re-use, repair,
refurbishment and recycling and capacity building to
implement these policies.
To support national and local initiatives to divert end-
of-life electrical and electronic equipment from
dumping towards sustainable re-use and recycling
operations to protect human health and the
environment.
To raise public awareness on the environmentally
sound management of end-of-life electrical and
electronic equipment.
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18. Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (1)
The VROM-Inspectorate (VI-Netherlands), EPA-
Ghana, CEPS-Ghana, GPHA-Ghana signed a Joint
Work Programme on 2nd April 2009 to collaborate to
improve and facilitate enforcement and compliance
and to prevent import and dumping of e-waste into
Ghana.
Provides for a structure for information exchange
between EPA, CEPS, GPHA and VI to guarantee the
mutual understanding of Ghanaian and Dutch
legislation and working procedures.
The cooperation also seeks to improve collection and
recycling of E-waste in Ghana
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19. Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (2)
Conducted a feasibility study on the possibilities for
setting up recycling of e-waste (through private-
public partnership) and reducing environmental
harm of E-waste in Ghana.
A delegation of Ghanaian officials from EPA, CEPS
and GPHA visited the Netherlands from 26-30 May
2009
The delegation visited Mirec at Eindhoven (an e-
waste processing company), offices of Dutch Customs,
the Ministry of VROM and the ports of Amsterdam
and Rotterdam
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20. Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (3)
The delegation also met the President of the NVMP -
the Dutch Association for the Disposal of Metal and
Electrical Products, and discussed a visit to Ghana and
the intention of the NVMP to finance a study on e-waste
management in Ghana
The visit facilitated exchange of information on
procedures and practices concerning the enforcement of
transboundary waste trade.
The Ghanaian Minister also visited the Netherlands and
held discussions with her Dutch counterpart on
assistance of the Dutch Ministry to the Ghanaian
Ministry.
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21. The E-Waste Africa Project (1)
To improve the level of information available
on flows of e-waste and e-products being
imported to West African countries and other
countries to improve decision-making.
To increase the capacity of parties to the Basel
Convention in West Africa to manage e-waste
and end-of-life electrical and electronic
equipment at the national level and prepare
national environmentally sound management
plans.
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22. The E-Waste Africa Project (2)
To study the feasibility of establishing
environmentally sound materials recovery
operations and promoting ESM in the context
of the Basel Convention in a major informal e-
waste recycling area in Africa (Ghana
Netherlands collaboration)
To enhance the capacity of Parties to the Basel
Convention to monitor and control
transboundary movements of e-waste and
prevent illegal traffic.
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23. Other E-waste Related Interventions
Green Advocacy (Ghana) and Blacksmith Institute of the
USA – Conducting studies on health and environmental
impacts of e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie-Accra
Philips Electronics – Focusing on recycling of Scrap Lead
Acid Batteries
UNODC – Container Control Programme
Raw Materials Group of Sweden – Looking at training of
informal sector operators on improved E-waste recycling
CHF International of Switzerland – Training on E-Waste
recovery methods, health and safety and developing of E-
waste Guidelines
Interpol – Collaboration on control of exports of E-wastes
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24. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (1)
Policy & Legislation
Domestication of Chemicals and Waste Related
Conventions in National Law
Technical Committee on Waste Shipment Prevention
(TCWSP)
Adoption of EU WEEE Guidelines
Extended Producer Responsibility
Mandatory Registration of E-Waste Recycling
Companies/Scrap Dealers
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25. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (2)
Business & Financing
Consult with major manufacturers and local dealers
of electrical and electronic equipment on
implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility
in Ghana
Establish e-waste fund to finance e-waste
programmes. Adopt economic instruments including
fees on new and used electrical and electronic
equipment to feed the e-waste management fund.
Mandatory registration and licensing of scrap
dealers could facilitate their access to credit
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26. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (3)
Technology & Skills
Design and build a demonstration centre to promote
improved e-waste dismantling and refurbishment
Develop facility for the temporary storage of
hazardous components of e-waste (e.g. CRTs, etc.)
and other hazardous wastes and arrange for final
disposal in an environmentally sound manner.
Develop section of an existing waste disposal site to
receive some of the hazardous components of e-waste
and other hazardous wastes.
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27. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (4)
Technology and Skills Continued
Establish collection centres (to be managed by
interested/qualified members of the scrap
dealers/refurbishers associations) to be located at various
vantage points in the country
Promote establishment of community based recycling
centres
Train e-scrap recycling operators on health and safety
Seek collaboration with E-waste recycling companies in
the Netherlands and other developed countries to receive
and process some E-Waste fractions from Ghana (e.g.
Mother boards)
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28. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (5)
Marketing, Awareness and Education
Hold consultations with of scrap dealers, refurbishers and
key stakeholders on draft e-waste management strategy
and prepare implementation plans for various components
Continue to investigate the environmental and health
impacts of current e-waste practices
Hold sensitization programmes for policy-makers (e.g.
Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science
and Technology), to promote the promulgation of
legislation on control and management of e-waste and
other hazardous waste.
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29. Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (6)
Marketing, Awareness and Education continued
Design and implement public awareness/information
campaigns
Design and implement information and training
programmes for informal e-waste operators on
environmentally sound collection, transportation,
storage and dismantling e-wastes. Use a train-the-
trainer approach to ensure that many informal
operators benefit from the training.
Use the print and electronic media to increase public
awareness on the e-waste challenge
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