Downstream Stories

Ghana, Kpone, Accra

Overview

Ghana’s biggest Landfill

Whereas landfills are conventionally engineered and managed for the disposal of solid waste, a series of upstream activities producing e-waste and plastic waste ends up in landfills In Ghana, creating citywide pollution. This is the case of Kpone, formerly Agbobloshie, and other landfill sites across the country. Aside from dealing with hazards from leachate contamination, air pollution poses an important threat to the health of frontline communities. This stems from the number of unprotected youth and women who collect, burn and extract scrap metals for upcycling. The health sector reports highlight a worrying trend of air quality decline across these areas. The growing community of waste workers and scrap collectors, including youth, women and their children, are at immediate risk.

Downstream Community Stories

Divine Dekonor

Secretary of Kpone landfill waste pickers association

Divine Dekonor gives an overview of the activity at the dumpsite.
Divine Dekonor

Secretary of Kpone landfill waste pickers association

Divine Dekonor speaks to the burning and recycling taking place at the dumpsite.

A waste picker finds scraps of metal after a pile of waste has been burned.

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Shot on location with the help of Green Africa Youth Organisation and the informal waste sector association at Kpong. 

Message from the film crew: “ For the actual shooting, we encountered no challenges. Securing permissions to shoot and mobilising for interviews proved challenging. The team worked around it by strategically engaging and explaining the objectives to relevant stakeholders.”

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