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Germany supports Government of Ghana with 25 Million Euros to tackle environmental impact of E-waste.
In line with its development cooperation with Ghana in the field of electronic waste management and recycling, the Federal Government of Germany has decided to commit a total of 25 Million Euros to alleviate environmental impact of electronic waste in Ghana.
In line with its development cooperation with Ghana in the field of electronic waste management and recycling the Federal Government of Germany has decided to commit a total of 25 Million Euros to alleviate environmental impact of electronic waste in Ghana. This was announced yesterday 13th March 2017 during an official ceremony at Alisa Hotel attended by H.E. Christoph Retzlaff, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana, Hon. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong - Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, officials from the German Embassy and the ministry and a section of the press.
The e-waste collection and recycling mechanism has a span of three years and aims at tackling e-waste challenges in the country. The focal point of the project is the waste site of Agbogbloshie where toxic substances generated from the burning of cables pollute daily both the environment and the sea. Under the project the most harmful e-waste substances will be bought from the informal sector at competitive prices, collected in a hand-over center and will be put to tender for sound recycling.
In addition a health centre financed by the German federal state of Northrhine-Westphalia will be stationed at the site for the workers and their families.
The project has two components: a grant of 20 Million Euros financial cooperation through the KfW Development bank which will serves as seed fund for the future recycling fund and a 5 Million Euros worth of Technical cooperation through the implementing agency GIZ to raise awareness on the most harmful practices.
In his speech Ambassador Retzlaff said that though Ghana is fast becoming a beacon in West Africa in electronic waste management owing to the passing of the “Hazardous and Electronic Waste Law” in 2016, the notoriety gained by the waste site of Agbogbloshie worldwide is a blow to this record. He however noted that the workers at the site are highly-organized, effective and specialized in their job and that is where this project comes in to partner them by giving them incentives to get the harmful substances out and have them recycled in a sustainable way.
He used the opportunity to congratulate Ghana for the just celebrated 60th anniversary of independence.