Accra’s Waste Dump Threatens Health and Environment of Local Residents

A thick haze hangs over a large waste dump in Accra, Ghana, where excavators dig into piles of burning trash. The air is filled with smoke from burning plastic and rubber, mixing with the foul smell of stagnant water. This dump, located in the Agbogbloshie district, has accumulated thousands of tonnes of waste over the years, affecting the nearby wetlands and the lives of around 80,000 residents, many of whom are migrants and traders.

James Hassan, a 31-year-old scrap dealer from Liberia, works daily at the dump without gloves or a mask. He searches through discarded electronics and metal for items to sell. Despite suffering from headaches and coughs, he has never sought medical help, believing his symptoms are normal.

Experts warn that workers at the dump are exposed to dangerous metals and chemicals, which can enter the body through cuts or by inhaling smoke. While no specific diseases have been directly linked to the pollution, the overall contamination is alarming, according to Reginald Quansah, an epidemiologist from the University of Ghana.

The waste problem at Agbogbloshie is part of a larger issue discussed at the COP31 climate talks in Turkey. Much of the refuse comes from outside Ghana, particularly from the second-hand clothing market, which imports millions of used garments weekly. Greenpeace estimates that about half of these clothes end up as waste, either dumped or burned, contributing to the pollution.

Hellen Kahaso Dena, an expert from Greenpeace, highlighted that the global north is treating Ghana as a dumping ground for fashion waste. The discarded textiles often contain harmful materials that release toxins when burned, posing health risks to local communities.

In addition to clothing, the dump is filled with old electronics, which are recycled in unsafe conditions. Workers like Barima Okuanaju dismantle appliances by hand, exposing themselves to toxic fumes. Nearby, children like 14-year-old Aminatu Fatawu sell water to the workers, but the smoke makes her cough, and she has even noticed blood in her saliva.

In September, Ghana’s President John Mahama announced a cleanup plan to remove about one million tonnes of waste from Agbogbloshie. The effort aims to transport the garbage to a landfill outside the city, where it will be managed more safely. Officials also plan to integrate informal workers into the recycling process, potentially creating thousands of jobs. However, many scavengers remain skeptical about the promises made.