The issue of metal and electronic waste has emerged as a global crisis, driven by high consumption rates, short product life cycles, and limited recycling capacity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated globally in 2022, with only 22.3% collected and recycled through formal channels. The majority is either dumped, traded informally, or recycled under poor conditions, resulting in substantial environmental degradation and significant long-term health risks to vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.

Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, emphasized the Church’s commitment to addressing poverty by providing dignified livelihoods, empowering individuals, and fostering a culture of self-reliance. He noted that this initiative is part of the pastoral efforts by the Archdiocese's priests in Agbogbloshie, often referred to as the “City of God” or Holy Bakhita. Over two decades, the ministry has worked to support scrap dealers, traders, and their families in the face of the numerous challenges posed by Ghana’s primary hub for electronic and metal waste.

Jörg Nowak, Deputy Press Officer for Missio Aachen, expressed concerns regarding the poor waste management practices in Agbogbloshie. He said, “We don’t want Ghana to be the waste bin of Germany or any other Western country,” highlighting the urgent need to combat cycles of environmental pollution and human exploitation. He added, “the conditions in Agbogbloshie market are bad, and they have to be changed. But you are so creative in recycling, and Germany has a big problem because we don’t recycle enough. We are not able to recycle. There is so much dump in the old mobile phones. We can learn so much from each other.”

He also acknowledged the ingenuity of a local Muslim craftsman named Iddrisu, who has been supported to create religious artefacts from e-waste, including thousands of medals and the remarkable “City of God” Recycle Cross.

Sr. Mercy Benson, Provincial Superior of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit in Ghana, described the initiative as “Laudato Si in action.” She referenced Pope Francis's encyclical urging everyone to care for our Mother Earth, stating, “When we take care of Mother Earth, she also takes care of us.”

Sr. Mercy emphasized the project as a “two-way initiative,” focusing on both e-waste recycling and community empowerment. She noted that, with financial support from Missio and collaboration with the Archdiocese of Accra, they have been able to elevate the dignity of local artists.

Benefits of Proper Recycling of E-Waste

Proper recycling of e-waste protects public health and ecosystems, conserves finite minerals, and generates jobs while fostering a cleaner supply chain.

• Environmental Benefits: It prevents toxic substances like lead, mercury, and lithium from contaminating soil and water. Effective recycling reduces landfill volumes and greenhouse gas emissions, and it also reduces battery fires in landfills. Notably, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) estimates that recycling could reduce mining demand by up to 10% by 2050 while supplying essential minerals for clean energy technologies.
• Resource Recovery: Electronics contain valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper, and rare-earth metals. Recycling enables the extraction and reuse of these materials, diminishing the need for new mining.
• Economic and Social Benefits: By creating jobs in collection, refurbishing, and materials recovery, proper e-waste recycling combats unemployment and poverty, addressing associated issues such as declining public health, social exclusion, and crime.

The "City of God" initiative was founded by Fr. Arcadio Sicher, a Franciscan priest who chose to live in the slum near Agbogbloshie’s infamous electronic dumping ground. Since 2012, Fr. Subash Chittilappilly has managed the City of God, continuing to enhance the living conditions of the slum's residents with a strong focus on education and healthcare.

REFERENCE

Information from https://newswatchgh.com/catholic-archdiocese-of-accra-partners-with-german-missio-aachen-to-launch-recycling-workshop-at-agbogbloshie-scrapyard/, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste-(e-waste), and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371534657_The_Impacts_of_Religion_on_National_Development was used in this story