An environmental campaigner Mike Anane has called for a review of the country’s environmental laws to prevent the importation of used computers and electrical gadgets into the country. He says the practice has reached “disastrous proportions” and needed immediate action to be taken. “Every week truck loads of used computers are dumped into the country from the industrialized countries which are hazardous for our environment especially to our children who break open these computers.” Mike Anane in an interview with Joy news, also called for heavy penalties against companies who breach the laws by importing these hazardous materials popularly known as e-waste. These recommendations were in response to an appeal by the Minister of Environment and Local Government Kojo Adjei Darko to western countries to desist from using Ghana as damping ground for obsolete computers. The Minister made the appeal at the ongoing UN Conference on climate change in Accra. But Mike Anane says government could better than appealing to western countries. “There is the need for government to go a step further, mere appeals are not enough.” “We will need to review our laws with penalties contained in them to deter companies from engaging in such businesses.” In his response, Kojo Adjei Darko said the way to go is to educate people about hazards associated with e-waste. “Once people are made aware of the hazards associated with the use of e-waste, they will know how to better handle them.” He told Joy news that the used computers contain lead and other toxic materials which are unfavourable to the environment, but hinted that government is considering relocating people already in the business. Asked whether government is considering a ban on the importation of e-waste, the minister said “when it becomes necessary, government will take a decision” With the drive towards embracing the era of Information technology, Adjei Darko said government will not rush into banning the importation, since that will also have effects on the prices of computers in the country. He said the phenomenon is an international issue and needed the cooperation of all governments to put an end to the practice. Author: Nathan Gadugah