Sege, Aug 28, GNA – Madam Esi Nana Nerquaye-Tetteh, Acting Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has called for a sustainable and responsible management of e-waste to protect the future and well-being of people and the planet.
She said while electronic devices had become essential to daily lives, enabling communication, boosting productivity, and driving innovation, the swift technological progress had also resulted in a substantial rise in electronic waste, posing complex environmental, social, and economic challenges.
Madam Nerquaye-Tetteh was speaking at an awareness creation workshop on e-waste in Ghana.
The workshop aimed at deepening understanding of the e-waste landscape, including the legal and regulatory frameworks, and the Integrated E-Waste Management System to guide towards the establishment of a robust e-waste management system, which addresses the needs of the country.
The workshop saw a diverse group of stakeholders committed to addressing the issue of e-waste in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.
Madam Nerquaye-Tetteh said Ghana generated a significant amount of e-waste each year, with a waste collection system that was largely driven by the informal sector and inadequate waste management infrastructure.
She said e-waste posed significant environmental and health risk if toxic chemicals contained in devices or materials were allowed to leach into soil and water-bodies, and the continuous open burning of waste in homes and communities were not curtailed.
“These worst practices of managing our waste have resulted in air pollution in some communities or settlements near major landfills or dumps sites such as Agbogoloshie, Kpone, Ashaiman and a host of others across the country,” she added.
The Acting Executive Director said Ghana in 2016 took a bold step in passing “The Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, 2016 (Act 917)” and its subsequent regulation, “LI 2250” that mandated the Authority to collaborate with relevant local authorities to ensure the sustainable management of hazardous and e-waste.
She said the current legal regime enjoined everyone to participate in ensuring that waste generated from household and offices, or place of work was channeled into approved waste management systems.
She said the EPA through the World Bank-funded Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Programme (AEHPMP), and with the support of other key collaborators had developed the Integrated E-waste Management System that aligned with the legal framework by ensuring inclusivity of vulnerable groups.
Mr Larry Kotoe, Project Coordinator, AEHPMP, said the Programme was a regional programme consisting of five African countries, including Ghana.
He said the programme addressed the impact of waste management practices on human health and the environment, particularly the open burning of tires and electronic items to extract valuable metals, which posed significant risks.
The Project Coordinator said it aimed at addressing environmental pollution caused by improper waste management, particularly the burning of items that severely degraded air quality.
He said by diverting these materials into proper recycling channels, the initiative sought to both improve environmental conditions and create sustainable livelihoods.
Mr Kotoe said the Project encouraged individuals to bring waste to designated centers where it could be responsibly collected, dismantled, and treated.
The Project Coordinator said it was a five-year initiative set to conclude next year, with its primary focus on establishing collection and dismantling centers nationwide.
He said Sege was one of the selected sites for the facility construction, which was expected to be completed within six months once it began.
“We also have Nkronso in the Eastern Region, and Tamale as key locations for the project. Our strategy includes establishing one facility in the Southern Region while avoiding Greater Accra, where a facility already exists.”
“This approach allows us to expand into the middle belt, specifically the Eastern Region, and extend our efforts to the Northern Region. Once the center is operational, the next phase will involve diverting household waste to these facilities for proper management,” he added.
Mr Kotoe said they had introduced a system similar to a delivery application, where one could request the collection of items in bulk, and the center could arrange for pickup, or you choose to deliver the items yourself.
“This app will function much like other delivery platforms, providing a convenient way to manage your waste responsibly,” he added.
GNA