By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Dr Vincent Nartey Kyere, E-Waste project team leader at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) said this at the third dialogue series organized by the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE), Southern Zone in Accra.
The event, which was on the theme, “E-waste and its Impact on the Environment and Livelihoods in Ghana” sought to educate members and the public on dangers associated with e-waste and food safety, its management, and benefit if handled rightly.
Dr Kyere said about 20 per cent of electronic gadgets imported into the country were waste, 60 per cent were valuable metals 15 per cent were plastic 2.7 per cent were harmful pollutants.
He said although the small fraction of e-waste contained hazardous materials and had been identified as the cause of health, agriculture, and environmental challenges it contained valuable resources including gold, silver, platinum, copper, aluminum, nickel, tin, zinc, and iron.
Dr Kyere mentioned that it was important to formalize the collection and dismantling of e-waste in the country because it was the source of livelihood for a section of the public who were in the value chain.
He said effective recycling of the valuable resources from the e-waste could be the avenue and contribute to the emission reduction target as part of the country the Nationally Determined Contributions, under the Paris Agreement,” he said to conserve the acres of vegetation that were removed to mine these minerals.
“The safe way of handling this e-waste will reduce the pollution associated with the current crude method.
Mr Felix Mote, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said to sanitise the sector the government had developed comprehensive legal instruments, including the programme of action to manage the E-waste menace.
The EPA, he said, had commenced steps to formalize the E-waste business in the country to reduce its effect on the environment.
Hence, he said it was imperative for all and sundry to serve as watchdogs on each other in order to ensure that the environment was protected and E-waste used properly.
E-waste could be described as discarded electronic equipment powered by electricity/battery/solar power, which are no longer suitable for use by the owner but has uses.
Source: GNA