A sprawling waste dump in Ghana’s capital, Accra, is posing growing health and environmental risks to thousands of residents and informal workers, with environmental groups warning that the country has become a dumping ground for discarded clothing and electronic waste from Western nations.

Greenpeace estimates that about 15 million used garments are shipped to Ghana every week, with roughly half ending up as waste after traders remove items suitable for resale.

“The global north is effectively using Ghana as a dumping ground for fashion waste,” Samuel Quashie-Idun, head of investigations at Greenpeace Africa, told AFP.

A Greenpeace-cited study estimated that Ghana imported more than 110,000 tonnes of used clothing in 2022, volumes the organisation says exceed domestic demand and place additional pressure on the country’s waste management systems.

Environmental health experts warn that burning electronic waste and cables can release toxic substances, including lead and mercury, while open fires produce soot and other harmful pollutants.

Greenpeace also found that 89 percent of sampled discarded garments contained petrochemical fibres such as polyester, which can release microplastics as they degrade and hazardous substances when burned.

“This is not just an environmental crisis... it’s also a human health crisis,” said Hellen Kahaso Dena, Greenpeace’s plastics project expert.

The pollution also threatens the Korle Lagoon, which receives runoff from across Accra. Scientists warn that contaminants from the dump can enter the soil and waterways, potentially making their way into the food chain.

The concerns come as waste management features prominently at the COP31 climate talks in Türkiye, which began on Monday.

In September, Ghanaian President John Mahama launched a three-month cleanup operation aimed at removing about one million tonnes of waste from the capital

Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga said informal workers would be incorporated into the country’s formal recycling system.

The government hopes to create up to 20,000 permanent jobs in waste management and the circular economy, he said.