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| Toxic scare: Agbogbloshie now computer graveyard |
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| Posted on: 2008-Aug-07 Daily Graphic |
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The sanitation and environmental challenges at the Agbogbloshie area in Accra, has been compounded by the turning of a refuse dump in the area into a dumping place for disused computers, otherwise called e-waste.
Heaps of old computers and their accessories that are unusable are continually being dumped there without any regard for the hazard that they pose to the environment and people living in that area.
As if that danger is not enough, people who are trying to make ends meet are worsening the situation by heavily polluting the air through the burning of cables and smashing of the computer monitors to retrieve metals from the waste to sell.
While they busily and incessantly burn the cables, the immediate environment is engulfed in thick black smoke, which takes hours to clear.
However, because it is a continuous act carried out each day, there is no respite for people living in that area or those who move in and out of the area.
With the obvious threat from such an action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whose responsibility it is to deal with such issues, is yet to act as it awaits a report from an international team that undertook a research into the situation earlier this year.
Alhaji Mamoud Fuseini, who has a store near the market, told the Daily Graphic that the situation had created respiratory problems for him and two other people but unfortunately a report made to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to act was yet to receive any favourable response.
"It has been going on for a while and unfortunately, it is a refuse dump so it is quite difficult to go and confront anyone there. But if the AMA acts, we could have some relief," he said as he tried to restrain a cough.
Though the perpetrators agree that their actions pollute the air, they are not ready to stop as it is helping them raise some money to make ends meet.
Shaibu Issah, a 28-year-old scrap seller, said the 'project' was fetching him more money than he had anticipated, even though he would not reveal how much he made in a day.
“Depending on the quantity of cables we find, and the weather, we burn quite a lot and retrieve copper wire which we sell. It may be a dumping ground but it is our source of livelihood now.
"The smoke from the burning causes some problems because it goes into our eyes and sometimes makes us cough but it is better than not finding any work to do," Issah tried to explain himself to the Daily Graphic.
Young children have also taken advantage of the school holidays and are deeply involved, smashing the computer monitors for the metals without knowing the effect their actions would have on them now and in the future.
Issa Ahmed and Boye Bi Boye, aged 12 and 14 respectively, who were busily seen smashing some of the monitors, said they had been compelled to do that job because that was the only way they could raise money for their fees next term.
"My uncle is taking care of me and he has been doing this job for a while so when school vacated, he asked me to come along. If I don't, I may not be able to return to school next term," Issa said.
He complained that even though it was just his second week, he had developed some chest pains, which his uncle treated with some painkillers.
Boye explained that he had no one taking care of him because his mother could not be traced, while his sick grandmother could no longer work to take care of him. He was introduced to the job by his friend and had been doing it for over two months now.
Several other children found at the site had similar stories to tell bout why they had resorted to working on that e- waste dump.
Despite it being perceived as a job opening for them, environmentalists and health officials say the people working on the dump and around the e-waste are putting themselves at great risk of cancer and other respiratory diseases.
Dr Kwabena Agyei-Sarpong, a Ghanaian medical doctor working in the United States, clearly concerned about the situation, called for immediate intervention from the authorities as those directly involved and those living within a certain radius were inhaling cancerous air.
"Just like passive smokers being at risk, those in the immediate environment and nearest surroundings are being forced to inhale smoke that affect the lungs and other respiratory organs. It is dangerous.
People are likely to be reporting to the hospital with itchy eyes and chronic allergies and if some are so sensitive, some can even develop skin cancers all from the burn of the cables which become very toxic," Dr Agyei-Sarpong explained.
He said it was even more worrying for the children because they also risked having low IQ.
"The lead from the computers are poisonous and can affect the brain in the future but the worse is that the children who are working there to make money for school may not be able to make it because they certainly will have low IQ," he sounded the alarm bell on the health implications.
From inquiries, it was revealed that the e-waste was usually dumped there at dawn when many people were still asleep and it was, therefore, very difficult to know exactly who were responsible for dumping the waste there.
The EPA has, however, challenged those who have complained about coughs and chest pains to provide scientific or medical proof.
Mr William Abadoo, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the EPA, who confirmed his personal knowledge of the situation explained that he was part of the team that undertook the research. He further explained that since the report had not been submitted, no action had been taken yet.
Asked if there was no way the EPA could intervene as people had complained about some medical problems, Mr Abadoo replied: "We cannot take the complaints of the people on the face value of it. Just because they are coughing does not mean it is as a result of what is going on at the dump site.
"We must be concerned about the dumping of the e-waste, but there must be a scientific or medical proof that the people were reportedly coughing or having chest pains as a result of the activities going on in that area," Mr Abadoo stressed.
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