Toward a Circular Economy for a Sociotechnical Transition in Ghana’s e-waste Sector

Abstract

Our study addresses a gap in knowledge by examining the interplay between interventions and sustainability within Ghana’s e-waste industry. We assess the ongoing circular economy initiatives in e-waste, connect them to prospects for sociotechnical transition, and reflect on critical integration gaps and challenges. We analyze acts/policy documents and interview 20 key stakeholders. Our findings highlight the complexity of transitioning from informal practices to integrated spatialized circularity. Vertical integration efforts (capacity-building programs, public-private, and formal-informal partnerships) are weakly calibrated with horizontal integration initiatives (multi-stakeholder collaborations, data-driven resource allocation, and multiscalar policymaking). While efforts have yielded some positive social and environmental impacts, including reducing some health/safety risks for some informal actors, challenges persist due to limited stakeholder engagement, disjointed value chains, and regulatory gaps. To ensure sustainable progress, we recommend a reflexive process of circular economy implementation and feedback systems, e-waste value chain integration, infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, public education, and a unified legal framework.