Photos: A Ghanaian artist’s project to turn toxic e-waste into art | Hindustan Times
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Photos: A Ghanaian artist’s project to turn toxic e-waste into art

Updated On Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Awuah-Darko co-founded the non-profit Agbogblo.Shine Initiative, which encourages people working at the Agbogbloshie dumping site in Ghana to turn e-waste into high-end furniture. The university student dreams of a future when more than 100 people from Agbogbloshie can leave the hazardous work of burning toxic waste to create something sustainable.

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Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko poses for a portrait at Agbogbloshie electronic waste dumpsite in Accra, Ghana. In January 2017, Joseph co-founded the non-profit Agbogblo.Shine Initiative, which encourages people working at the dump to turn waste into high-end furniture. “It’s survival and dystopia,” says the 21-year-old British-born Ghanaian. The dump and scrap yard sit next to the heavily polluted Odaw River, home to an estimated 40,000 people. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Ghanaian artist Joseph Awuah-Darko poses for a portrait at Agbogbloshie electronic waste dumpsite in Accra, Ghana. In January 2017, Joseph co-founded the non-profit Agbogblo.Shine Initiative, which encourages people working at the dump to turn waste into high-end furniture. “It’s survival and dystopia,” says the 21-year-old British-born Ghanaian. The dump and scrap yard sit next to the heavily polluted Odaw River, home to an estimated 40,000 people. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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The Agbogbloshie dumping ground is one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps. According to UN, salvaging materials for recycling provides income for more than 64 million people in the developing world. Ghana is said to have the largest informal recycling industry in Africa and imports some 40,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

The Agbogbloshie dumping ground is one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps. According to UN, salvaging materials for recycling provides income for more than 64 million people in the developing world. Ghana is said to have the largest informal recycling industry in Africa and imports some 40,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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Young men collect waste at the dumpsite in Accra. The workers typically risk exposure to harmful fumes by burning obsolete and unwanted appliances such as mobile phones, computers, televisions and plastics that are brought to Ghana from around the world. After burning, they salvage and resell copper and other metals from these leftovers of modern consumer culture. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Young men collect waste at the dumpsite in Accra. The workers typically risk exposure to harmful fumes by burning obsolete and unwanted appliances such as mobile phones, computers, televisions and plastics that are brought to Ghana from around the world. After burning, they salvage and resell copper and other metals from these leftovers of modern consumer culture. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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Joseph Awuah-Darko works on a clock, the pieces of which were found at Agbogloshie dumpsite, at his workshop in Ashesi University. When he first saw the piles of circuit boards, wires and plastics, he decided to use his artistic talent as a force for change.The students straddle between two worlds --a life on the lush campus of a private university in a forested area and a life among some of Ghana’s poorest . (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Joseph Awuah-Darko works on a clock, the pieces of which were found at Agbogloshie dumpsite, at his workshop in Ashesi University. When he first saw the piles of circuit boards, wires and plastics, he decided to use his artistic talent as a force for change.The students straddle between two worlds --a life on the lush campus of a private university in a forested area and a life among some of Ghana’s poorest . (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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Mohamed Abdul Rahim, who is in charge of about 20 young men, has been working at the site since 2008. On average these workers make only about 20 cedi each ($4.50) a day. “We are suffering because of the heat and smoke, it disturbs us. If we see good work we will go join it and leave this,” he says. The toxic fumes damage their lungs while their hips and waists ache from carrying heavy objects. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Mohamed Abdul Rahim, who is in charge of about 20 young men, has been working at the site since 2008. On average these workers make only about 20 cedi each ($4.50) a day. “We are suffering because of the heat and smoke, it disturbs us. If we see good work we will go join it and leave this,” he says. The toxic fumes damage their lungs while their hips and waists ache from carrying heavy objects. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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Young men burn e-waste at the dumpsite in Ghana. Awuah-Darko recognises that the people of Agbogbloshie “are basically in pursuit of what we all want, which is a better life”. Unfortunately, the side effects or the by-product of this is the detriment of their health,” he said. By giving new life to the waste, he hopes that his initiative will not only improve the workers’ lives but also the planet. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Young men burn e-waste at the dumpsite in Ghana. Awuah-Darko recognises that the people of Agbogbloshie “are basically in pursuit of what we all want, which is a better life”. Unfortunately, the side effects or the by-product of this is the detriment of their health,” he said. By giving new life to the waste, he hopes that his initiative will not only improve the workers’ lives but also the planet. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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Awuah-Darko’s first upcycled work is a grandfather clock made from a galvanised car axle, aluminium and part of a discarded wall clock. Two high-end hotels in Accra are currently vying to buy the unusual timepiece, he said, and with such interest he plans to create more and expand operations. Joseph looks up to a future where more than 100 people from Agbogbloshie can leave this dangerous work to build furniture. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

Awuah-Darko’s first upcycled work is a grandfather clock made from a galvanised car axle, aluminium and part of a discarded wall clock. Two high-end hotels in Accra are currently vying to buy the unusual timepiece, he said, and with such interest he plans to create more and expand operations. Joseph looks up to a future where more than 100 people from Agbogbloshie can leave this dangerous work to build furniture. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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A table made by from pieces of scrap metal found at the dumpsite is pictured at his workshop at Ashesi University. He also wants to exhibit the creations at major galleries around the world and sell them at auction houses. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

A table made by from pieces of scrap metal found at the dumpsite is pictured at his workshop at Ashesi University. He also wants to exhibit the creations at major galleries around the world and sell them at auction houses. (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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A young man carries electronic waste at Agbogbloshie dumpsite in Accra. The young workers wish to live in a world where they do not have to burn waste for survival. A 26-year-old worker at the site says, “Some people think we are bad because they think we are mad. If we get money no one will look at us like that. Some day will come when no one will be working here.” (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Dec 28, 2017 12:04 PM IST

A young man carries electronic waste at Agbogbloshie dumpsite in Accra. The young workers wish to live in a world where they do not have to burn waste for survival. A 26-year-old worker at the site says, “Some people think we are bad because they think we are mad. If we get money no one will look at us like that. Some day will come when no one will be working here.” (Cristina Aldehuela / AFP)

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