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E-waste Recycling June 05, 2017 01:30:37 PM

Germany offers 15 million euro aid to e-waste recycling in Ghana

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
The financial aid is expected to support Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) in its efforts to improve the conditions for sustainable management and disposal of e-waste in the country.

Germany offers 15 million euro aid to e-waste recycling in Ghana

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The German government has announced to offer 15 million Euro financial assistance to support Ghana’s “Environmentally Sound Disposal and Recycling of E-waste in Ghana” programme. The financial aid is expected to support Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) in its efforts to improve the conditions for sustainable management and disposal of e-waste in the country.

Out of 15 million Euro, five million euro will be funded through the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The remaining 10 million Euro will come as financial cooperation through the KfW Development Bank.

Speaking at the inception technical workshop held on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng highlighted the rampant growth of electronic waste volumes in the country. He also drew attention to the need for systematic and constant efforts to tackle the challenges posed by rising electronic waste volumes. According to him, sustainable e-waste management will help reduce environmental pollution and health risks. Formulation of sustainable e-waste management policy will contribute significantly to generation of large number of employment opportunities, which in turn will result in the country’s economic growth.

Mr Alan Walsch, the Country Director of GIZ Ghana noted that all stakeholders including national and local government institutions, private companies and the informal e-waste recycling sector will be made part of the solutions. The consultation process is expected to extend until January 2020, he noted. Mr Bright Acheampong, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority stated that the technical workshop offered several opportunities for the youth of the country to venture into new recycling initiatives, which could in turn lead to preservation of local environment. The participants of the technical workshop presented the challenges faced by the sector and put forward various recommendations towards successful implementation of the program.

Meantime, Mr Chirstoph Retzlaff, the German Ambassador to Ghana announced that the German Federal State of North Rhine- Westphalia will help Ghana in setting up of a health post at Old Fadama for scrap workers. The program will be implemented in collaboration with GIZ Ghana, he noted.

The Ghana Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, in partnership with the country’s Environmental Protection Agency, is presently constructing a state-of-the-art e-waste recycling facility at Agbogbloshie in the Greater Accra Region. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost around USD 30 million. The proposed plant is expected to put an end to unethical recycling practices followed in the region, by recycling all electronic waste into useful final products in the most environmentally sound manner. In addition, the country had introduced the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill last year, which promises funds to support safe management of e-waste.

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