The graph above shows the massive number of used computers that are transported in Ghana every year from 2004-2011. Tons of the computers are shipped to Ghana every year. Companies in Ghana make develop countries ship their old devices to sell it for cheaper price.
Who is bringing E-waste to Ghana?
The above picture is from Spiel Online, which shows the number of second hand televisions sold in Ghana. Electronic devices that have been use in develop countries like Holland, America, England, Australia, etc. are now living a second life in Ghana. Developed countries produce new electronic devices, and by doing that, they tend to ship the old ones to countries that are still developing.
What do they do with these old electronic devices?
Ghana is also one of the developing countries in West Africa that is willing to make use out of those devices. The E- waste are being ship to Ghana will be sold for a low price and people will be able to afford it. When Ghanaians buy these used electronic devices, it will only be used again for a year or two then, they will try to fix the devices or it will end up in a dump site (Agbogbloshie), and that will lead to a domestic E-waste. Ghanaian are using second-hand electronic devices because it is the only way to buy it for a cheaper price. When you think about the positive side, Ghanaian have access to technology. They can buy computers (refurbished) for a cheaper price, and those who fix computers in Ghana have the ability to increase their skills as technicians by making use of the useful material in those computers.
The Problem
"Without the television sets they fixed over the years, nobody would have built TV towers" Ottaviani Jacopo.
Your blog really interest me because i learned a lot about this in a class i took last year. The effects on the atmosphere are very devastating and to the health of the men doing the jobs.
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