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

less-industrialized countries to stop the import of wastes into
their territory.
On September 9, 1988, Ghana’s executive chairman of the
Environmental Protection Council, called on West African
countries to be extra vigilant against the dumping of toxic waste
in their territories. 90
V.A. Sackey, director of the Castle Information Bureau in Ghana,
wrote a letter to West Africa in response to concerns of
Ghanaians about waste dumping in their country. Sackey
assured them that “Ghana has no arrangement with any country
for the dumping of toxic wastes, nor will she ever have.” In order
to ensure that no waste enters the country, Sackey explained,
Ghana’s Environmental Protection Council monitors all possible
points of entry for imported toxic wastes. 91
Obsolete Pesticides: According to FAO, in Ghana there are altogether 72 tonnes of
obsolete pesticides stored in 15 different locations. The following
substance was identified, among others: Lindane
Countries of origin named are: Britain, France, Germany, Israel,
Japan, Mexico, Switzerland. 92
GUINEA
Frank B. Antwi from the Ghana EPA confirmed they were still
there in January 2001. 93
BASEL LOMÉ IV / COTONOU BAMAKO
26.04.95 Ratified Party Signatory
National Policy: The country of Guinea (-Conakry), as a party to the Lomé
Convention, totally bans waste imports to its territory. Guinea is
also a signatory to the Bamako Convention which bans the
import of hazardous waste.
Guinea has called for a “global offensive in the struggle against
the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.” 94
Waste import schemes: Scheme: Bulkhandling
Date: 1988
Type of Waste: Toxic Incinerator Ash
Source: U.S.
Exporter: Bulkhandling, Inc. (Norway)
Pretext/Fate: Raw Materials for Bricks
90 Brooke, New York Times, September 25, 1988; West Africa August 22, 1988, August 29 - September 4, 1988; Xinhua, August 1, 1988, August 4, 1988, September 9, 1988.
91 West Africa, December 19-25, 1988.
92 FAO 1999, 2001
93 Personal conversation with Andreas Bernstorff, Rabat, Morocco, Jan 11,2001
94 UNEP, p. 23.
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