The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has engaged key stakeholders within the electronic waste (e-waste) value chain on the implementation of a project aimed at managing the disposal of e-waste in a sound environment in Kumasi.
The project, which is also seeking to minimize negative environmental and human health impacts from improper management of e-waste, is a collaboration between the Ministry and the German Government through KFW.
Representatives from scrap dealers associations, electronic repairers, environmental health officers, waste management companies, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attended the forum.
It was to raise awareness of the project and to get the concerns of the participants to help inform policy and project implementation.
Under the 20-million Euro project, which started in 2018, the German government is supporting Ghana to set up an incentive mechanism for the sound collection, dismantling, recycling, and disposal of e-waste.
Consequently, a Handover Centre has been established in Accra to purchase e-waste from scrap collectors at a fee slightly above the market value as an incentive to halt the burning of e-waste to obtain copper.
The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs. Cynthia Asare Bediako, in a speech read on her behalf, said the project was modeled to align with provisions of Act 917 and provided the government the opportunity of identifying challenges and lessons learnt to improve upon national systems once it fully took off.
According to her, over 50 tonnes of e-waste cables were purchased by the Handover Centre at Agbogloshie since the incentive payment system was launched in June, last year.
“The project hopes by mid-April 2021, to commence the purchase of mixed batteries at Agbogbloshie. These e-waste fractions when collected will be offloaded to licensed recycling companies to handle them in an environmentally sound manner”, she stated.
She said it was important to sensitize all stakeholders on the Regulatory Framework on e-waste management in Ghana and outline the roles each of them could play for a successful implementation of the project.
The Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and the Project Coordinator, Mrs. Lydia Essuah, said Ghana’s e-waste management was largely controlled by the informal sector with close to 97 percent dominance.
She said they employed crude, rude and unconventional methods to recover the valuable component and indiscriminately disposed of the hazardous component at the detriment of the environment and human health.
The current system, she said, was not sustainable and that was why the government has taken steps including policy direction, legislation, business models, and funding to address the problem.
Latest Stories
-
Amerado is singing and it’s good he’s doing that – Lyrical Joe
8 seconds -
NDC government will establish a Women’s Development Bank – Prof Opoku-Agyemang
7 mins -
My selection is an affirmation of your belief in women – Naana Opoku tells Mahama
14 mins -
Our ticket will be a pair of experienced individuals – Mahama assures
23 mins -
NDC officially outdoors Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate
37 mins -
+233 hosts Int. Jazz Day concert on April 30
42 mins -
Farmer arraigned over threat of death
60 mins -
Education Minister unveils new uniforms for basic schools
1 hour -
8th Ghana CEO Summit scheduled for May 27
1 hour -
Leaked intimate video has severely embarrassed me; I’m sorry – Serwaa Amihere
2 hours -
Poll results alone don’t constitute victory for any political party- Asiedu Nketia cautions NDC
3 hours -
Gyakie spills truth on her journey to fame
3 hours -
Energy sector CSOs challenge President Akufo-Addo to transparent value for money audit of SML contract
3 hours -
Plunderers of the State will face the music – Prof Jane Opoku-Agyemang promises
4 hours -
We don’t feel safe after inconsiderate conduct of Regional Minister – Ashanti ECG staff
4 hours