Audio By Carbonatix
Environmentalists are warning squatters at Agbogbloshie slum face major health risks hanging around the electronic dumpsite.
There are nearly 80,000 squatters dealing mainly in scrap metals for a living.
In order the get copper, the dealers burn cables from discarded computers and electronic gadgets. The huge smoke is inhaled which according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exposes them to a lot of health hazards.
An environmentalist Mike Anane explains "we are talking about a cocktail of heavy metal, lead, cadmium, mercury...lot of the people here are ignorant about what they are taking into their body...it is very dangerous" he said.
He has been campaigning that government takes immediate action to check the indiscriminate dumping of discarded electrical appliances from foreign countries at the site.
In a 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment" found that of 215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30% were brand new and 70% were used.
Of the used imported product the study further established that 15% was not reused and was scrapped or discarded.
The EPA is also collaborating with the Swedish Embassy to train scores of young men working at the electronic dump site to find a hygienic way of extracting cables from used electronic gadgets instead of burning them.
Latest Stories
-
Financial Stability Advisory Council holds final meeting for 2025
15 minutes -
Education in Review: 2025 marks turning point as Mahama resets Ghana’s education sector
21 minutes -
Nigeria AG orders fresh probe into alleged intimidation and assault of Sam Jonah’s River Park estate staff
27 minutes -
Concerned Small Scale Miners commend GoldBod’s efforts in addressing gold smuggling
37 minutes -
Haruna Mohammed claims Ghana Audit Service undermined
43 minutes -
5 members of notorious robbery syndicate in Tema, Accra arrested
45 minutes -
BoG, SEC and FIC hold Joint sensitisation workshop for Virtual Asset Service Providers
50 minutes -
How Nico Cantor became one of the top voices in American soccer
2 hours -
Ghana colorectal cancer patients face low survival rates, KNUST study finds
2 hours -
Police arrest suspect in GH₵ 7.5m daylight robbery at Adabraka
2 hours -
Armwrestling: The Golden Arms’ 2025 Triumph and an Era of Unprecedented Victories
2 hours -
Ghanaian researcher wins ASCE editors’ recognition for modular construction study
2 hours -
Corruption fight: I don’t think there’s political persecution or witch-hunting – Edem Senanu
2 hours -
Police deploys personnel to heighten security ahead of watchnight services
2 hours -
Education in Review: 2025 marks turning point as President Mahama resets Ghana’s education sector
2 hours
