Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on Thursday, February 1, 2024, as part of their oversight responsibilities met with scraps dealers in Koforidua to assess how they are going about collection of E-waste and metal scraps.
Chairman of the Committee Dr. Emmanuel Marfo addressing the Eastern Regional scraps dealers noted that when Ghanaians build because of heat they get in air-conditioners but questioned how they dispose of them upon damage.
Again, as a Committee they do not want to seat in Accra and be briefed on what is happening on the field, so they have to come and see things for themselves.
He used the opportunity to thank Ecopartners for the training and education they are giving to the scrap dealers on the harmful nature of electronic waste as they contain some harmful elements when not properly disposed of can have dire consequences on the environment. He further pointed out that E-waste is not a waste per say because if processed, it generates more money.
He thus, encouraged the scrape dealers to come together to form a strong association so that they can be supported.
Dr. Marfo added that when a collection centre is built, the scrap dealers need to feed the centre with materials, thus they need to work assiduously.
A technical officer of Ecopartners Eric Kobena Arthur indicated to the Committee that they have a good working relationship with the scraps dealers; they have trained them and impacted knowledge on how to handle E-waste, adding that they now have a fair knowledge that per their activities if they do not handle the wastes well, it can pose danger to the environment.
The scraps dealers were happy that members of the Committee had called on them since the scraps activities is what they use in looking after their family its good they have been given training on the harmful nature of the E-waste when not handled properly.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com