Germany supports Ghana with €20m to control e-waste

Germany has earmarked €20 million to support Ghana to set up an electronic waste recycling facility which is one of the interventions to control hazardous and electronic waste in the country.

The German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Christoph Retzlaff, who disclosed this in Accra , said in addition the German government had pledged €5 million to support a programme to improve the working conditions of workers who dismantled electronic waste at Agbogbloshie, in Accra.

Mr Retzlaff said this at the opening of a three-day international exhibition and conference on clean energy and environment. The West African Clean Energy and Environment Exhibition and Conference is a gathering of companies from Europe and locally to showcase their products and solutions for waste management, water treatment and renewable energy.

The event is organised by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK Ghana) in collaboration with Fairtrade, a German trade fair organising firm. This year’s is on the theme: “Linking Policy and Practice – Realising solutions for energy security, waste and the environment”.

Framework for Ghana-Germany engagement

The ambassador, who commended Ghana for ratifying the Paris Convention on Climate Change, said the passage of the Hazardous and Electronic Waste law by Ghana’s Parliament would also serve as the framework for a Ghana-Germany engagement.

“With this legislation, Ghana is the frontrunner in Africa. Germany is known for its recycling practices and for recycling technology developed in our country. My government has pledged €5 million to a programme focused on improving working conditions for workers dismantling electronic waste and establishing a collection centre,” Mr Retzlaff stated.

The 5th WACEE will host a specialised German Pavilion for the third time running. Mr Retzlaff said WACEE was the first and only fair in Western and Central Africa to have attracted such a pavilion.

The Dutch also have a pavilion where companies would showcase solutions in water treatment, renewable energy and energy storage.

Support for Ghana’s renewable energy efforts was an important part of Germany’s cooperation with Ghana, where GIZ and KfW were supporting a number of projects under the Renewable Energy Programme.

EU Ambassador

Mr William Hanna, who also recognised Ghana’s leadership in Africa in setting Greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation targets, said the EU had earmarked €160 million to support climate-resilient agriculture.

“This means ensuring proper management and uses of the resource base, access to renewable sources of energy and climate-proof agriculture,” he explained.

AHK Ghana

A delegate of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, Mr Patrick Martens, explained that the fair and conference, the fifth time in Ghana, had become the flagship event of AHK for West Africa.

He said it was part of efforts by his outfit to promote West Africa and Ghana in particular as a good spot for doing business and reaching out to the surrounding region.

“This is also to promote Ghana as a spot for doing business. So we market the region to create awareness and bring in companies. This is why we have the German and the Dutch pavilions. This makes the fair really international,” he stated.

The exhibition goes along with conferences that will take place concurrently. The opening day of the September 13-15 exhibition and conferences will discuss how to fulfil commitments to ensure energy security while some political parties will address how they intend to address sustainable energy supply in the country.

Source: www.Graphic.com.gh, 15th September, 2016