Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Mr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has called on scrap dealers at the Agbogbloshie scrap enclave to cease the burning of electronic waste (e-waste) due to its severe health and environmental consequences.
During a working visit to the area on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Mr. Mohammed emphasized that the practice endangers not only the workers but also the broader community. He urged them to adopt safer disposal and recycling methods for their own well-being.
His visit aimed to assess the current activities of scrap dealers who returned to the yard following their eviction in July 2023 by the previous administration. He also sought to understand their operational challenges, particularly their reluctance to use the E-Waste Collection Centre at Agbogbloshie.
Agbogbloshie has long been a hub for informal e-waste recycling, where workers dismantle discarded electronics to extract valuable metals. However, the common practice of burning components to retrieve materials like copper has led to significant pollution and health hazards.
The Minister encouraged scrap dealers to collaborate with the Collection Centre, which is equipped with systems for the safe extraction of metals. He noted that dealers had stopped bringing waste to the centre due to dissatisfaction with incentives provided.
“We have a collection centre here responsible for receiving e-waste and offering incentives to these young men and women. However, I am informed that they are no longer willing to participate due to concerns over incentives,” Mr. Mohammed stated.
To address this, he announced the formation of a committee to engage with the leadership of the scrap dealers and review the incentives to encourage compliance.
Mr. Mohammed appealed to the dealers’ leadership to cooperate with the new administration in ending hazardous waste-burning practices to safeguard public health and the environment.
