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Scaling Circular Solutions - Swisscontact Ghana Showcases E-Waste Innovation at AHK Roundtable

Ghana
04.07.2025
On 2nd July 2025, at the AH Hotel in Accra, Swisscontact Ghana joined stakeholders at the AHK Ghana Circular Economy Roundtable, an event convened to accelerate Ghana’s transition toward a circular economy while recognizing the European Union’s contributions to green value chains and waste reduction.

Swisscontact Ghana’s team, represented by Araba Ampomah, Efua Aidoo, and Nana Yaw Konadu from Electro Recycling Ghana (ERG), delivered a presentation titled “Tackling E-Waste through Strategic Partnerships,” spotlighting the critical need for collaborative action in addressing Ghana’s growing e-waste challenge.

The E-Waste Landscape in Ghana: A Growing Crisis

Ghana generates over 500,000 tonnes of electronic waste annually, with nearly 40% processed informally in areas like Agbogbloshie, Techiman, and Kumasi. Here, over 200,000 people depend on e-waste for survival, often using unsafe dismantling and burning methods that expose workers and communities to toxic chemicals while polluting land and water bodies.

This crisis is driven by the influx of untested second-hand electronics from Europe and low-quality, short-lived electronics from Asia, resulting in a continuous cycle of waste accumulation, health hazards, and environmental degradation.

Challenges and Opportunities

The presentation highlighted key challenges including:

  • Severe health risks from toxic substances such as lead and mercury.
  • Environmental pollution from burning and unsafe disposal.
  • Income insecurity for informal workers lacking training and protection.

Yet, beneath these challenges lie significant opportunities:

  • Green job creation within a formalized e-waste value chain.
  • Entrepreneurship and technological innovations that can transform waste into resources.
  • Environmental restoration and reduction of carbon emissions.
  • Export potential of recycled materials, supporting Ghana’s green economy.

The ERG and Swisscontact Partnership: A Practical Pathway

To transform the e-waste management system, Swisscontact Ghana and ERG have partnered under the SesaTec initiative, piloting 30 container-based collection and processing models with a vision to scale to 2,000 hubs nationwide. This model:

  • Formalizes e-waste collection in local communities.
  • Provides safe, income-generating opportunities for youth and informal workers.
  • Reduces pollution while recovering valuable resources.
  • Integrates technology and traceability for responsible recycling.

“For us at Swisscontact, a circular economy is not just about managing waste; it’s about creating decent jobs, promoting local innovation, and ensuring that environmental sustainability goes hand-in-hand with economic opportunities.”  Araba Ampomah, MRM lead and Project Officer, Swisscontact Ghana.

“It’s inspiring to see how young people in these communities, when given the right tools, are turning what was once waste into a source of livelihood while protecting the environment,” added Efua Aidoo, Partnerships and Project Officer,  Swisscontact Ghana.

Using Sesatec as a Financing Model: Panel Discussion Insights

During the event, Nana Yaw Konadu from ERG joined a panel discussion on “Innovative Financing & Circular Business Models – Scaling Solutions in Ghana.” He highlighted how the SesaTec model is not just a recycling initiative but a proof-of-concept for scalable, financially viable circular business models that attract investment while delivering environmental and social impact.

By integrating responsible collection, technology, and partnerships, Nana explained how SesaTec demonstrates the potential for innovative financing to accelerate Ghana’s circular economy while addressing critical waste management challenges.

Through partnerships like Swisscontact Ghana and ERG, circular economy solutions in e-waste management are transforming scrap into empowerment, driving Ghana closer to a greener, more resilient future.