Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (MP), Minister for MEST, Visited Scrap Dealers Association at Agbogbloshie
On Tuesday, 26th February 2025, the Honorable Minister for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MEST), Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (MP), visited the members of the Scrap Dealers Association at the Scrap Yard in Agbogbloshie.
This visit formed part of the activities under the “Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in an Environmentally Sound Way Project.” The project was an essential component of MEST’s commitment to advancing sustainable waste management practices in Ghana, focusing particularly on the safe disposal and recycling of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste management had become a growing concern globally, and Ghana, as one of the leading recipients of electronic waste in the region, faced unique challenges and opportunities in managing this waste stream.
The primary goal of Hon. Dr. Muhammed’s visit was to engage directly with the scrap dealers at Agbogbloshie, one of the largest informal e-waste recycling hubs in West Africa, to understand their operations and concerns. The visit followed the return of the scrap dealers to the yard several months earlier, after a period of uncertainty about their activities.
Hon. Dr. Muhammed emphasized the importance of creating a framework that would support the informal sector while ensuring the protection of the environment and the well-being of the people working in the e-waste recycling industry. Engaging directly with scrap dealers allowed the Ministry to better understand the realities on the ground, identify challenges faced by these workers, and explore collaborative solutions to ensure that recycling practices met international environmental standards.
During the visit, Hon. Dr. Muhammed listened to concerns raised by the scrap dealers, including the need for better infrastructure, access to safer recycling technologies, and improved working conditions. Many of the dealers expressed a desire for more government support in terms of training, access to better tools, and financial incentives to adopt safer and more sustainable methods of e-waste recycling.
One of the significant challenges highlighted was the improper handling of hazardous materials found in electronic waste, such as heavy metals and chemicals, which posed health risks to workers and the surrounding environment. Hon. Dr. Muhammed reassured the dealers that the Ministry was committed to addressing these issues and providing solutions that balanced the need for economic activity with the need for environmental protection.
The Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Muhammed, focused on creating policies and programs that would help formalize and regulate the informal sector of e-waste recycling in Ghana. This included providing training on safer recycling techniques, improving waste segregation, and promoting awareness of the dangers of improper disposal of electronic waste.
The government also worked in collaboration with international organizations, environmental NGOs, and other stakeholders to develop a national e-waste management strategy that included both public and private sector involvement. By providing better technology, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks, MEST aimed to transform e-waste recycling in Ghana into a safer, more sustainable, and more efficient industry.
Scrap dealers were a vital part of Ghana’s e-waste management system. They played a crucial role in collecting, sorting, and recycling valuable materials from discarded electronic devices, such as metals, plastics, and glass. However, many of these operations took place in informal, unregulated environments that could be hazardous to both workers and the surrounding community.
Following the visit, Hon. Dr. Muhammed reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s e-waste sector would become a model for responsible recycling in Africa. The Ministry actively sought partnerships with both local and international organizations to invest in technologies and infrastructure that would modernize e-waste recycling, making it safer and more environmentally sound.
MEST planned to continue engaging with stakeholders across the e-waste value chain, including government agencies, businesses, civil society, and international partners, to create a robust framework for e-waste management that balanced economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.
The visit to Agbogbloshie marked a critical step in strengthening Ghana’s approach to e-waste management, ensuring that the country remained on track to meet global environmental standards while providing sustainable economic opportunities for its citizens.