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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 19 days · First seen · Last updated

Air pollution and waste burning in Accra

Overview

Air pollution in Accra, Ghana, is being driven by waste burning and vehicle emissions, leading to significant public health risks and economic losses. In response, thirteen municipal assemblies launched the ‘Stop Waste Burning’ campaign, which includes a dedicated hotline for residents to report open burning to local authorities.

While the campaign focuses on education and the enforcement of existing bylaws, specific areas like Agbogbloshie face severe environmental crises due to the informal processing of electronic waste. In these settlements, individuals known as ‘Burner Boys’ burn cables to extract copper, releasing toxic substances such as lead and mercury. Investigations indicate that air pollutants in these areas consistently exceed World Health Organization standards, contributing to a broader global challenge where a vast majority of electronic waste is not formally recycled.

Entities

World Health Organization · Agbogbloshie · Breathe Cities Accra · Desmond Appiah · Infinity 970

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Agbogbloshie e-waste burning causes toxic air pollution in Ghana

    Toxic air pollution in Agbogbloshie, Ghana, has reached dangerous levels due to the informal burning of electronic waste to extract metals, posing severe health risks to local communities.

  2. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Accra launches hotline to report open waste burning

    Accra has launched the ‘Stop Waste Burning’ campaign, providing a hotline for residents to report open waste burning to combat air pollution and associated health risks like cancer and diabetes.

Sources

chale.news · evere.co · myjoyonline.com · onuaonline.com