Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRESED), in partnership with the Clean Air Fund, has embarked on a one-year study to examine concerns and practices related to e-waste and the associated health risks among communities in Greater Accra.
As part of this initiative, a stakeholder meeting was held on Thursday, 12th February, at the General Assembly Office, Church House, Accra. The meeting brought together representatives from the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, traditional and community leaders, local assemblies, and waste management stakeholders.
Presenting the project overview, Dr. Lawrencia Osae-Nyarko of the Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, explained that the study aims to understand community concerns, knowledge, and practices related to e-waste and its health implications, while empowering communities to advocate for action and policy enforcement.
She noted that the study will adopt a cross-sectional mixed-method approach, focusing on communities such as Agbogbloshie and Ashaiman. The research will target both Junior High School children and adults, with a sample size of 100 participants per community.
Dr. Osae-Nyarko emphasized that the project integrates community sensitization and action planning, school and youth engagement, media and public awareness campaigns, and the development of community action plans to demand stronger policy enforcement.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the initiative and stressed that awareness campaigns must be conducted in local languages to ensure effectiveness at the grassroots level. They also identified practical ways to collaborate, including assisting with awareness creation at the community level, implementing sanctions, and educating the public on the health implications of air pollution and unsafe e-waste practices.
