UN Special Rapporteur Cites Ghana’s Weak Implementation Of Laws On Toxic Waste …Says Toxic Exposure is a human rights Violation

The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Mr. Marcos Orellana, has expressed worry over Ghana’s weak implementation of laws on toxic waste.

According to him, the weak implementation of the laws on toxic waste has exposed the citizenry to dangers which he said amounts to violation of human rights.

“At Agbogbloshie, one the world’s largest e-waste dumpsites, thousands of people living and working there are exposed to high levels of hazardous substances. “For a meagre income, children are leaving their schools to burn electronic cables for the extraction of copper,” Orellana said.

He said the use of mercury in small scale gold mining is also worrying.

The UN Special Rapporteur made the disclosure at a Press briefing in Accra on Tuesday after a 14-day visit to Ghana and assessment of the human rights situation in Ghana in relation to Toxic and hazardous substances.

“At the same time there is weak implementation of laws concerning chemicals and waste at the national level. This puts individuals at risk of serious human rights violations”, the Special Rapporteur said.

The expert who travelled to three regions namely Eastern region (Atiwa range), the Ashanti region (Obuasi) and Western region (Tarkwa) also stressed that Government’s National Action Plan on mercury is an important step but is not ambitious enough, and does not include a phase-out date for mercury use.

“The Government should ban the trade and use in mercury, champion amendments to strengthen the Minamata Convention on mercury, and address mercury use as a form of environmental crime,” Orellana said.

Mr. Orellana also revealed that plastic waste also is not properly managed.

“ Plastics are covering beaches and burning in informal dumpsites all over the country.The National Plastic Waste Management Policy is important but effective implementation is lacking, he said.

“For instance, Ghana should consider banning single-use plastics, reducing volumes of production and establishing extended producer responsibility schemes.”, the Expert stressed.

Whilst commending Ghana for its leadership at the international level in strengthening multilateral agreements in the chemicals and waste cluster, as well as leading the African Group in negotiations toward a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, the UN Special Rapporteur however called for an urgent action to be taken by Ghana to stop the human rights violations as far as toxics and hazardous substances are concerned.

The Special Rapporteur is expected to present a report with his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.

Source:www.senaradioonline.com