Accra: Ghana is set to integrate e-waste management and recycling into its technical and tertiary education curricula, aiming to formalize the informal sector and enhance sustainability. Dr. Vincent Nartey Kyere, E-waste Team Leader at the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, announced this initiative, which seeks to equip young people with necessary skills in sustainable waste management and establish a structured recycling framework.
According to Ghana News Agency, this educational reform has already seen Schools of Hygiene in Accra, Tamale, and Ho incorporating e-waste management into their syllabi. This development is supported by the German Government, KfW, and the Mountain Research Institute. Plans are also underway to extend similar content to technical schools and university programs.
Dr. Kyere emphasized the importance of early exposure to e-waste recycling for students to cultivate expertise and a professional mindset towards managing e-waste. This strategy aims to formalize the informal sector, generate green jobs, and mitigate environmental risks associated with unsafe e-waste disposal. Additionally, short courses are being offered to informal workers, such as scrap dealers, who are increasingly adopting safer recycling practices.
Mrs. Florence Kuukyi, Public Health Director for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, highlighted the significance of integrating e-waste management into educational curricula. She stressed that this initiative would better prepare students for the evolving sanitation sector, which requires a comprehensive understanding of sustainable consumption, circular economy, and air pollution.
Experts point out that the surge in e-waste is linked to the increased use of electrical and electronic gadgets, economic growth, and the importation of secondhand devices with short lifespans. Alarmingly, approximately one in four imported electronic gadgets arrives as waste. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that e-waste activities in Ghana generate between $105 million and $268 million annually, providing livelihoods for at least 200,000 people.
Informal methods of metal extraction, such as open burning, have led to water contamination and the release of toxic gases, posing severe health risks. To address this, Ghana has established three e-waste collection centers located in Abossey Okai (Agbogbloshie), Koforidua, and Kumasi. These centers accept various electronic waste materials, offering financial incentives to collectors, with the collected materials being transferred to EPA-certified facilities for proper recycling.
The initiative began as a pilot program and is scheduled to conclude in January 2026. However, stakeholders are advocating for its extension, aiming to test the national recycling system. An EPA official explained that the overarching goal is to ensure that the advanced recycling fee paid at the point of purchase will cover the cost of collection and recycling when a product reaches the end of its life.
