By Iddi
Yire, GNA
Accra, Aug. 30, GNA – Dr Gerd Müller, German
Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, on Thursday paid a
working visit to the Old Fadama Scrap Yard in Accra.
The purpose of the visit was to enable the
German Minister get first hand impression of the direct impact of the E-Waste
Programme Measures on the informal sector in general; and in particular the
progress of the financial cooperation by the German Development Bank (KFW) and
the technical cooperation by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Dr Müller was conducted around the Old Fadama
Scrap Yard by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Accra
Metropolitan Chief Executive.
The delegation inspected on-going construction
works of a Health Facility and Training Workshop, funded by the State of
North–Rhine Westphalia (NRW.
The renovation of the Football Pitch with the
support of Sports for Development Africa (S4DA), and the introduction of a
Hand-Over Centre for cables, funded by KFW, which have been initiated by the
E-Waste Programme at the Scrap Yard and as measures to accomplish the aim.
Speaking at a durbar organised in his honour,
Dr Müller recounted that two years ago, he was at the Old Fadama Scrap Yard,
where he saw that some of the artisans were working under unacceptable
conditions.
He said their plans in collaboration with the
Government of Ghana was to create new jobs and better working conditions for
the young generation at Old Fadama.
“Our message to you is that the young boys and
girls needs education, and then they need money of course and a better future,”
he said.
He said the project marks a new beginning of a
better life and a better future for the young generation; stating that “and
let’s work together for a better future”.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng told the Ghana News
Agency that phase one of the project which cost $5,000,000.00 involves the
construction of a Health Facility, a Training Centre and the renovation of the
Football Pitch.
He said the artisans would be trained such
that in dismantling the scraps, they would not be endangered.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng noted that the clinic
would provide health services for both the artisans and the people of the area.
He said this would enable them to have access
to good medical care; declaring that “what they are doing is so important to
all of us”.
He said phase two would involve the
construction of a holding centre at Kwabenya near Accra, where E-waste from
various collection centres across the country would be brought and stored for
it to be sold to the recycling centres.
“It is not the intension of the Government to
remove people from here. We have to give them the training so that they can
stay here and do their work well.
“So that they would not damage the
environment, they do not damage their own health and then this country will be
a better place for all of us, because there are over 20,000 people who are
earning their living here,” he stated.
GNA