Photos and Story by Michael Ciaglo
Located just outside the heart of Accra, Ghana, the Agbogbloshie slum is the poisoned by-product of the Western world’s digital fetish. It is the last stop for some of the estimated 50 million tons of electronic waste, or e-waste, disposed of each year. In Agbogbloshie, young Ghanaians rip apart e-waste, set it on fire to melt away the plastic casings, and salvage the exposed copper wires. Two-hundred-and-twenty pounds of wire can be sold for up to five Ghana cedis, equivalent to $3.35. In the process, the Ghanaians, many in their teens, are exposed to carcinogens like cadmium and lead. The chance to earn an income, however, proves too enticing to outweigh the potential risks of scrapping out a life in the slum.
