The Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has inaugurated an Electronic Waste Hand Over Centre (HOC), in Accra, as a designated collection and storage facility for e-waste products, being a significant gain in the country’s e-waste management strategy.
Beyond serving as a storage hub, the HOC aims to facilitate environmentally sound recycling practices for discarded electronic devices, aligning with global best practices for e-waste disposal.
The HOC will act as a centralized collection point for various types of electronic waste, including obsolete or broken electronic devices. Its purpose is to streamline the e-waste recycling process by ensuring proper collection and storage before these items are transferred to recycling facilities.
A total of €20 million was allocated to the project, which consisted of three components, namely, a supply side focused on incentive collection of e-waste, a Handover Center focused on storage of e-waste, and a demand-side focused on e-waste procurement and recycling.
By creating a structured approach to e-waste management, the HOC aims to minimize the environmental impact of electronic waste disposal. The centre will support recycling practices that are in line with global standards, ensuring that toxic materials in e-waste are handled safely and valuable components are recovered responsibly.
The HOC is part of the “Recycling and Disposal of Electronic and Electrical Equipment in an Environmentally Sound Way” project, initiated by MESTI in partnership with the German Government through KfW. This collaboration reflects the commitment of both governments to sustainable environmental practices and the safe disposal of hazardous waste.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs Ophelia Mensah Hayford, said the inauguration of the HOC demonstrated the government’s commitment to both public health and the environment.
She noted that the facility symbolized the project’s success, including the safe collection of 476.88 tons of e-waste cables, 37.03 tons of mixed batteries, 31.83 tons of thermoplastics, and 87.00 sets of Cathode Ray Televisions (CRTs).
The partnership with various stakeholders such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and the e-waste fund, she said, had yielded positive results in a system that facilitates safe disposal of e-waste, lead to job creation, and trained more than 200 scrap dealers in the safe handling of e-waste.
Ghana faces significant challenges with e-waste management due to the growing demand for electronic devices and improper disposal methods. The HOC represents a proactive solution to address these challenges, reducing the health and environmental risks associated with informal e-waste disposal practices.
The establishment of this centre is expected to encourage proper e-waste disposal among individuals and businesses and promote further recycling initiatives nationwide. The HOC serves as a model for environmentally responsible e-waste management, which may lead to additional facilities and stronger policies to support sustainable waste practices.
The launch of the Electronic Waste Hand Over Centre (HOC) in Accra is a major step in advancing sustainable e-waste management in Ghana. Through its focus on safe disposal and recycling aligned with global standards, the HOC will play a pivotal role in protecting the environment and public health while encouraging responsible e-waste practices.
The initiative, a collaboration between MESTI and the German Government, reflects Ghana’s commitment to addressing e-waste challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.
