07 Mar 2024

Trade and counterfeit goods / Hazardous waste in Ghana: an international issue

The country's illegal hazardous waste trade is facilitated by corruption, creating many opportunities for money laundering and tax fraud.

The illegal dumping of hazardous waste in West Africa by Western countries is a major health and environmental issue, and can be perceived as a form of environmental racism targeted at the poor in the global South. This form of organised crime is enabled by loopholes in national and international laws and conventions that seek to counter this illicit trade. The trafficking of hazardous waste is a serious threat for Ghana’s environment, its population and their health, and needs to be addressed.

About the author

Abdelkader Abderrahmane is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, ENACT Programme, in Dakar.

Image: ISS/Abdelkader Abderrahmane

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