POPs IN AFRICA HAZARDOUS WASTE TRADE 1980 - 2000 ... - Arte

POSITIONS OF AFRICAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Economic Community of West African States
The 11th Summit of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) met in Lomé, Togo, in June 1988. The
purpose of the meeting was to promote solidarity in economic
policies, but waste trade emerged as a major issue of concern.
The host president, Gnassingbe Eyadema, explained that “our
efforts for the economic development of our states and for the
progress of our people will be in vain if we do not...preserve the
lives of our people and the environment.” 13
At the summit, ECOWAS leaders adopted a resolution
condemning toxic waste exports and agreed to enact national
legislation against dumping of foreign wastes. A statement by a
member country represented the ECOWAS position: “We
cannot accept that at a time when industrialized nations refuse to
buy our commodities at reasonable prices, these same countries
are selling us death for ourselves and our children.” 14
ECOWAS organized a committee called “Dumpwatch” whose
main duty is to monitor waste trade and dumping in West Africa.
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
On May 25, 1988, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held
a summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Foreign ministers at the
summit unanimously adopted a resolution “to refrain from
entering into agreements or arrangements with any industrialized
countries on the dumping of nuclear and hazardous industrial
waste on African territories.” In addition, the foreign ministers
declared that “the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in
Africa is a crime against Africa and the African people.”
Resolution CM/Res. 1153 (XLVIII) of the council of Ministers
of the Organization of African Unity, on Dumping of Nuclear
and Industrial Wastes in Africa, May 25, 1988, and the
subsequent additional Resolution CM/RES. 1225 (L), July 1989
created a very strong and clear African policy and message on
the issue of hazardous waste trade.
13 Africa News, July 11, 1988
14 Ibid.
The African States entrusted the OAU with the task of convening
expert meetings which resulted in the adoption in 1991 of the
Bamako Convention, transforming these African resolutions and
common policy into a legal instrument with enforcement
mechanisms.
OAU health ministers passed a resolution in Kampala, Uganda,
in May 1989, calling for the establishment of a regional
environmental surveillance agency for Africa to monitor
radioactive and toxic waste contamination in Africa.
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