Event and Exhibition Report

Unwanted Waste or Precious Resources? An Exhibition on Informal E-Waste Recycling in Ghana by Muntaka Chasant, Dates: March 7 – 21, 2025 at the Goethe Institute Ghana, Accra

The Cluster Project Planned Obsolescence, Circular Economies, And Ecologies Of Electronic Devices at proudly presented a groundbreaking exhibition by distinguished Ghanaian photojournalist Muntaka Chasant. The exhibition, which opened on March 7, delved into the often-overlooked realm of informal e-waste recycling in Ghana. It explored the lives of e-waste workers who reclaimed valuable materials from discarded electronics, challenging prevailing narratives that depicted these sites solely as harmful.

Amid significant changes in the industry—particularly the demolition of the Agbogbloshie Scrapyard in 2021—Chasant’s photographic works highlighted the resilience and ingenuity of local practices in resource extraction. The exhibition served as a critical reflection on Ghana’s evolving e-waste landscape and the socio-cultural dynamics at play. It was the first time that an exhibition in Ghana covered the recent history of Agbogbloshie and it’s successor sites.

The opening event attracted a diverse array of attendees, including Daniel Krull, the German Ambassador to Ghana, the Environmental Officer from the US Embassy, academics from the University of Ghana and the MIASA Center at Legon, international researchers from Europe and the US, as well as members of the general public. A total of seventy guests engaged in vibrant discussions surrounding the exhibition's theme.

The evening concluded with the audio drama Goodbye, Gold Coast, created by Joewackle J. Kusi. This compelling narrative reimagined the eve of Ghana's independence through the intertwined lives of a young teacher and her European lover, encapsulating the complexities of personal and national identity during a time of significant change.

This interdisciplinary event not only showcased the vital issues of e-waste recycling but also fostered meaningful conversations about Ghana's past, present, and future. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to these important discussions.

Konstantin Biehl
Cluster of Excellence EXC 2052 - Africa Multiple: Reconfiguring African Studies
University of Bayreuth