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Livelihoods in risk: exploring health and environmental implications of e-waste recycling as a livelihood strategy in Ghana*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2013

Ebenezer Forkuo Amankwaa
Ebenezer Forkuo Amankwaa*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Resource Development, Box Lg 59, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra
*
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Ghana's pursuit of socio-economic growth has necessitated joining the information communication technology (ICT) revolution, thus increasing the consumption and obsolescence rate of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and the creation of what is popularly called e-waste. The absence of legislation governing its importation and disposal, combined with the dynamics of Accra's urban economy, including neo-liberal policies and lack of formal job opportunities, has triggered people's ingenuity to engage in novel occupations such as e-waste recycling. Though a lucrative strategy, it comes with a price for those involved: environmental health risks, a fact well articulated by a burgeoning literature. Nevertheless, little empirical evidence exists relating to this perceived relationship. Using questionnaires, FGDs and in-depth interviews, this study fills the lacuna. The findings reveal that the mean daily income of an e-waste worker is GH¢30, far above the daily minimum wage of GH¢4·48. Despite the positives, the findings also show that the environment and health can be compromised.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , November 2013 , pp. 551 - 575
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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Footnotes

*

I would like to thank the Carnegie Corporation of New York (under its ‘Next Generation of Academics in Africa’ project), through ORID University of Ghana, for the grant support, and Dr Martin Oteng-Ababio and Dr Mary Chama for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks to the anonymous reviewers and editors of The Journal of Modern African Studies, for their comments and feedback on earlier drafts of this paper. However, the views expressed in this paper are solely my own.

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