Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and ... - ITU

Upgrade the existing mobile infrastructure with a view to offering basic Internet access from all BTS
with, for example, smartphones and a switch to renewable energy sources in the process.
Adopt infrastructure sharing (e.g. utility poles) to reduce the cost of connecting grid electricity and a
broadband fibre/WiFi network for the 50 per cent Ghanaians without access to telephony (mobile
or fixed) and grid electricity.
• To create a regulatory framework which encourages energy efficiency and emission reductions for
existing and future telecommunication service provider (TSP) infrastructure and equipment. This would
include incentives for infrastructure sharing while imposing penalties for exceeding emissions targets.
It will also be necessary to encourage the introduction of technology to mitigate emissions in other
sectors. Regulatory easements to TSPs or an appropriate carbon-trading scheme could be used to
achieve this.
• To support legislation to tackle the e-waste problem in Ghana. The Energy Commission has recently
taken moves to ban used refrigerators and air-conditioners from coming into the country from 1
January 2013. This will reduce the dumping of electronic waste (e-waste) but not stop it. There is a
clear link between the management of e-waste and climate change as described in Section 2, and
actions are proposed that would limit this. Ways to assess the carbon footprint of the ICT sector as a
whole are given in the Annex.
ICTs and climate change mitigation: next steps
a) Extraction of raw materials, e-waste and recycling
• As far as is known, there are no standard publicly available inventories showing the energy and
emissions (CO2e) impact of extracting and processing raw materials such as gold. The EPA and MoC
should consider taking a lead on establishing such tables, specifically for Ghana.
• The EPA and MoC should check emerging legislation on e-waste to maximise the recovery of gold and
other rare metals for the electrical industry, and to ensure the safe disposal of ICT equipment in line
with the recommendations of the Basel Convention designed to reduce the movements of hazardous
waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less
developed countries. The categories of hazardous wastes are listed in Annex I of the Convention. It is
also covered if it is defined or considered to be a hazardous waste under the laws of the exporting
country, the importing country, or the countries of transit.
• The EPA together with MoC or other appropriate agency in Ghana should consider, and if necessary
promote, legislation on a ‘cradle to cradle’ or ‘closed loop’ approach to manufacture and recycling.
• The MoC and EPA or appropriate agency in Ghana should promote legislation to ban the import of e-
waste more effectively as it may contain unknown and unspecified toxins.
• Ghana lacks an effective infrastructure for handling e-waste. The EPA and the MoC or other appropriate
agency in Ghana should take a lead role in setting one up.
• The principle of producer responsibility (producer pays to clean up waste) should be applied in Ghana
to help to minimise e-waste streams. New legislation is required in this area. The EPA and MoC are in a
position to advise on the drafting of this legislation.
• The MoC, NCA, EPA or other appropriate agency in Ghana should coordinate at the global level with
institutions such as the ITU to identify a set of standards and best practices that could be undertaken
within the ICT sector to reduce GHG emissions. It is important that these are based on solid evidence
and compiled by a neutral organization such as the ITU and not simply based on claims of specific
manufacturers.
• The MoC and EPA or other appropriate agency in Ghana should coordinate at the global level with
institutions such as the ITU and draft new Recommendations on a sustainable procurement policy and
best practices, taking the whole life cycle into account.
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