Developing Countries and Ghana

Political Economy of E-Waste Introduction to E-Waste While developed countries and the west, in general, continue to take pride in applying modern technology in their activities, some parts of the world seem to be losing because of the same developments in the west. The countries in the global north are pursuing modern technology in all respects possible. There are hundreds of thousands of electronic waste products that are generated from such pursuits.

The electronic devices developed in these countries are largely sold in countries with a ready market to receive them. The devices come with a limited life span. They often stop functioning after their lifespan has lapsed. It follows that such devices and equipment has to be disposed off. It is this aspect of handling the products of technology that causes a major problem in some countries. Most of the devices contain metallic parts and toxic constituents. The toxins cause a major risk to the environment.

Indeed, some have been cited to be the triggers for terminal sicknesses including cancer, asthma and a myriad of other health complications. The electronic devices generated in such countries in the global north as Germany and the UK is sold to countries such as Ghana and China. The E-waste contains such toxic elements as lead mercury. Such chemicals and metals have a destructive impact on the environment and the ecosystems including harming humans.[footnoteRef:1] It's possible that such electronic waste is shipped to the receiving countries deliberately.

It seems to me that the developed countries that generate such waste have malicious intent. The devices are usually sent to receiving countries in the name of goodwill donations. This essay addresses the need to address the issue of E-waste dumping by developed countries in developing countries. The motive is to find a solution to stop the suffering that poor people have to endure because of the E-waste dumping practice.

[1: "Chapter 5 -- Environmental and Health Risks: Unusual Expansion of Waste Incineration in China Needs Attention," Chinese Research Perspectives Online (n.d.), xx, doi:10.1163/2213-6002_crpn_liu_9789004324596_0006. ] E-Waste Cycle and its Exportation Efforts have been made by both individuals and groups to create awareness on the issue, and how to recycle E- waste. It is apparent, though that developed countries are exploiting their developing counterparts in this respect.

There are groups that have developed certification schemes for recycling, but these could just be phonies with malicious intent and only want to create channels to allow the developed countries to keep dumping E-waste[footnoteRef:2]. The Environmental protection Agency of USA has estimated that over ae of computers that are sold in the US end up being piled in closets and garages. These computers are then mysteriously shipped to developing countries in Africa and elsewhere.

[2: "Where Does E-waste End Up?" Greenpeace International, accessed February 7, 2017, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/detox/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/.] The damage caused by these electronic devices, when dumped, depends on the toxins and other constituents used to manufacture them. Some pose more serious danger than others. It is clear that most of these electronic equipments do not decompose easily, and often require complex processes to either recycle or dispose them off via incineration[footnoteRef:3].

Some electronic devices that are commonly dumped in developing countries include LCD screens, TFT monitors, smart phones, computers, CRTs and electronic trackers. It has been reported that 93% of these devices are dumped in Africa and Asia. These items have also been reported to pass through many bodies masquerading as recyclers, but only ship them to cause harm in poor countries. It has been observed that only a small fraction of these devices are recycled.

The rest are sent to the poor countries and end up as toxic landfills that forever keep polluting the environment and cause untold suffering among the people and other life forms in affected environments. [3: "Watchdog group tracks what really happens to your 'recycled' e-waste" -- PBS News Hour http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/watchdog-group-tracks-what-really-happens-to-your-recycled-e-waste/ "] In terms of figures, over 40% of the electronics delivered to recycling firms in the US are exported illegally. Figures show that 96% of these exports are illegal[footnoteRef:4]. Most of these devices are not reusable.

They are burnt or incinerated. The result is a myriad of toxins being released to the environment. There is urgent need to stop these developments. [4: "FRONTLINE/World Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Accessed February 7, 2017. Electronic Wasteland" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuGSSuGs9jM] Although the exportation of the electronic waste seems booming business, it should not be lost that it is an illegal practice. Indeed, many countries have developed laws to control exportation and importation of hazardous electronic materials.

China is one of the countries with such clear laws. The US has been sluggish in developing such legislations. However, it is still apparent that the practice is illegal under the existing export laws. Further, the practice violates the laws of the receiving countries. It is clear, therefore, that exporting e-waste is an illegal practice and should not be accepted. The Environmental Impact The US environmental program reports that there are up to 4.6 tons of electronic waste due for disposal annually across the US[footnoteRef:5].

European countries have developed legislation barring dumping of e-waste. The reasons for such steps are evident. A lot of electronic devices in China are disposed off. Such practice exposes the environment to the hazardous effects of the toxic chemicals and metals. When such materials are not disposed off in the countries where they are manufactured, they often end up in Africa and other developing regions. There is a lot of evidence of electronic waste dumping in Ghana[footnoteRef:6] by firms in Europe and the USA.

[5: Electronic Wasteland" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuGSSuGs9jM] [6: "FRONTLINE/World Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Accessed February 7, 2017.] Ghana started receiving large consignments of computers many years ago; in the name of bridging the technology gap. Of course, crooks took over and exploited the provision to export electronic waste to Ghana. Many of the electronic waste were deceitfully labeled as donations. So, Ghana received a lot of electronic waste in the name of donations. Of course, over 90% of the devices are not reusable.

Apart from the environmental health hazards posed, the devices still contain information from their original users, a fact that is a real danger to many businesses. The information may be retrieved and used by criminals. According to a report produced by British Columbia University, most of the electronic devices dumped in Ghana originated in the USA. Further investigation through retrieval showed the identities and other personal information of the past users of the computers. Such information as credit card details, names, and financial details were extracted.

Government department details and other information were also retrieved from the devices. The US intelligence rates Ghana as.