Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana
Inadequate solid waste management (SWM) systems remain a pressing public health and environmental challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study conducts a thematic, interdisciplinary review of household, healthcare, and electronic waste management practices in Ghana, with a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259029112500467X |
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| author | Kwame Anokye Abigail Okyere Darko Portia Agyemang Luther Kwabi Adjei Mary Wejaamo Ayeriga Douti Nang Biyogue Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah Bosompem Ahunoabobirim Agya Stephen Sodoke Awal Ahmed Mohammed |
| author_facet | Kwame Anokye Abigail Okyere Darko Portia Agyemang Luther Kwabi Adjei Mary Wejaamo Ayeriga Douti Nang Biyogue Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah Bosompem Ahunoabobirim Agya Stephen Sodoke Awal Ahmed Mohammed |
| author_sort | Kwame Anokye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inadequate solid waste management (SWM) systems remain a pressing public health and environmental challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study conducts a thematic, interdisciplinary review of household, healthcare, and electronic waste management practices in Ghana, with a specific focus on their health and socio-economic impacts on marginalized communities. Drawing on academic literature, policy documents, and institutional reports, the study critically examines existing governance structures and evaluates the relevance of circular economy (CE) principles to the Ghanaian context. Findings reveal persistent exposure to waste-borne diseases, weak policy enforcement, limited stakeholder coordination, and systemic marginalization of vulnerable populations in SWM planning and implementation. The review identifies significant gaps in waste data, institutional accountability, and sustainable infrastructure. Notably, it highlights how CE strategies—if localised and inclusive—can provide innovative pathways for sustainable and equitable waste solutions. This study offers novel insights by integrating perspectives on health equity, governance, and CE into a unified analysis of waste systems. While grounded in Ghana, the findings offer broader implications for other Global South contexts seeking to transition toward sustainable and inclusive waste management frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f6e10ee8ead47f5b91d83e5c7eda854 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f6e10ee8ead47f5b91d83e5c7eda8542025-08-20T03:29:10ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011210173910.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101739Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in GhanaKwame Anokye0Abigail Okyere Darko1Portia Agyemang2Luther Kwabi Adjei3Mary Wejaamo Ayeriga4Douti Nang Biyogue5Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah6Bosompem Ahunoabobirim Agya7Stephen Sodoke8Awal Ahmed Mohammed9Department of Environmental, C K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, GhanaValley View University, Accra, GhanaCollege of Science and Engineering, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USADepartment of Applied Chemistry, C K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, GhanaDepartment of Applied Biology, C K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, GhanaDepartment of Environmental, C K Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, GhanaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Takoradi Technical University, P. O. Box 256, Takoradi, GhanaNordhausen University of Applied Sciences, Nordhausen, Germany; Corresponding author.National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, GhanaInadequate solid waste management (SWM) systems remain a pressing public health and environmental challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study conducts a thematic, interdisciplinary review of household, healthcare, and electronic waste management practices in Ghana, with a specific focus on their health and socio-economic impacts on marginalized communities. Drawing on academic literature, policy documents, and institutional reports, the study critically examines existing governance structures and evaluates the relevance of circular economy (CE) principles to the Ghanaian context. Findings reveal persistent exposure to waste-borne diseases, weak policy enforcement, limited stakeholder coordination, and systemic marginalization of vulnerable populations in SWM planning and implementation. The review identifies significant gaps in waste data, institutional accountability, and sustainable infrastructure. Notably, it highlights how CE strategies—if localised and inclusive—can provide innovative pathways for sustainable and equitable waste solutions. This study offers novel insights by integrating perspectives on health equity, governance, and CE into a unified analysis of waste systems. While grounded in Ghana, the findings offer broader implications for other Global South contexts seeking to transition toward sustainable and inclusive waste management frameworks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259029112500467XEnvironmental justicePublic healthSustainable developmentWaste-borne diseasesWaste management |
| spellingShingle | Kwame Anokye Abigail Okyere Darko Portia Agyemang Luther Kwabi Adjei Mary Wejaamo Ayeriga Douti Nang Biyogue Ebenezer Ebo Yahans Amuah Bosompem Ahunoabobirim Agya Stephen Sodoke Awal Ahmed Mohammed Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana Social Sciences and Humanities Open Environmental justice Public health Sustainable development Waste-borne diseases Waste management |
| title | Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana |
| title_full | Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana |
| title_short | Waste and well-being: Examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in Ghana |
| title_sort | waste and well being examining waste management challenges and disease burden among marginalized populations in ghana |
| topic | Environmental justice Public health Sustainable development Waste-borne diseases Waste management |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259029112500467X |
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