Balancing the benefits against the challenges for children in the electronic waste recycling industry in Ghana

Abstract

This research explored the lived experiences of children recycling electronic waste at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard in Accra, Ghana. The research examined the factors that brought the children to the scrapyard, the benefits of work and the dangers that child recyclers encounter in their line of work. This research contributes to the literature on children's work and would inform global policies on child labour and children’s welfare.

I conducted field research from March 2021 to December 2021 which involved child recyclers aged between 6 and 17 years who were home-based and street-based children working at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard. Over the ten months that I was at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard, I conducted ethnographic research which involved observation of the activities of the child recyclers and their interactions at the scrapyard. This was also followed by semi-structured interviews with adult workers and child recyclers at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard. In addition, I interviewed stakeholders and policymakers whose perspectives about the activities and welfare of the child recyclers at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard were sought. This included the Environmental Protection Agency, social welfare workers and NGOs who were linked to the activities of the child recyclers at the Agbogbloshie scrapyard.

The study found that the children's decision to work at the scrapyard was made under constrained circumstances, resulting in a range of both adverse and beneficial outcomes. To begin with, the children entered the recycling industry due to poverty, conflict, bad educational policies and parental neglect. These children entered the e-waste industry through kinship ties, peers or social connections and walk-ins. Additionally, the study revealed that the children's activities were a source of livelihood, an opportunity to play and bond with other children and had psychosocial benefits. The cultural reasons for the children’s involvement in work in the context included socialisation, the social value of childbirth and reciprocity. While there were obvious benefits for children’s work at the scrapyard, the study found that the children faced challenges and dangers while working as e-waste recyclers. These challenges stemmed from their interactions with their peers, adult workers at the scrapyard, government officials and the public. Despite these challenges, the children adopted coping mechanisms that ameliorated the impact of the challenges.

The findings of the research highlight the need for more contextual research to address child labour. In addition, the need to focus on generating data on other unexplored sectors where children are working is necessary to provide a holistic understanding of children's work and allow for suitable policies to be drafted.