By Damian Avevor
Caritas Ghana, the charity wing of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), has organised a stakeholders’ dialogue meeting on effective management of electronic waste in the country.
With support from the French Embassy in Ghana, the Meeting held at the Christ the King Parish, was attended by representatives of Government from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Parliament including the Mistry of Environment, Science , technology and innovation; Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Environmental Protection Agency; National Youth Authority; Accra and Tema Metropolitan Assemblies.
Faith-Based Organizations were represented by the Office of the National Chief Imam, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Christian Council of Ghana, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Ghana and Marshallan Relief, Development Services, City of God, Accra, and The Catholic Standard Newspaper.
The Meeting was an intervention needed for State Agencies and FBOs to dialogue and to understand policies and laws on e-waste products, with the aim to increase awareness to reach greater portion of citizenry on this issue.
It was also to receive the commitment and guidance of the State Agencies on how the role of Faith-Based Organisations could be further enhanced especially through mutual co-operation and to put before them some challenges likely to minimize the impact of E-Waste.
Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, said the meeting was at the request of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and being facilitated by Caritas Ghana.
“It builds on commitments made by the Catholic Bishops and their Brother Heads of Member Churches of the Christian Council of Ghana in May to cooperate with other faith groups to address the menace of poor sanitation and pollution from the wanton burning of plastics and electronic wastes in our cities,” he added.
According to him, Caritas Ghana has facilitated Faith-Based Organizations’ understanding about the policy (Act 917) and regulations (LI2250) for the management of e-waste in Ghana to ensure health of the environment and the population
He said the Meeting was towards a safe environment today and the future, saying that for the Catholic and the Orthodox Church traditions, the month of September is devoted to prayer for the care of creation.
According to him, with the help of Government, “we can back our prayers with other practical actions; including Pope Francis’ call for dialogue in his book – Laudato Si (CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME)”
Dr. Marion Chapon Sejourne, Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of France in Ghana, said France is committed to sustainable development hence its support to the dialogue which is to supplement government’s efforts to implement Act 917.
Mr. Hammond Hameed, a representative of the Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, called on government to create jobs for the youth through effective apprentice programmes to acquire skills.
After extensive dialogue, the stakeholders called for deepened collaboration between State Agencies and Faith-Based Organisations to understand the policy environment on E-waste, know the laws that govern the management of E-waste and push for its implementation.
They agreed to create a platform that would help MDAs to engage the FBOs and also train them in E-waste management and to step up efforts to advocate, educate and undertake other practical actions for safe management of electronic wastes.
They suggested that public awareness on the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, Act 917 (2016), must be increased to control the activities and the management of hazardous waste including electrical and Electronic equipment.
They also proposed the engagement and education of school children on the dangers of E-waste and called on government to make funding available for FBOs for educational purposes.
