E-WASTE

In February 2025, I travelled across Ghana, from central Accra to rural areas, following the policies, materials and everyday labour that make up the country's e-waste sector. Just Loops is the photographic and sociological account of that journey, where the political and economic conditions of health meet individual wellbeing.

Two men are walking through a cultivated field with young crops, surrounded by trees and dense green foliage under a cloudy sky.

CONTEXT

Ghana’s capital, Accra, is one of the hotspots of informal e-waste recycling, hosting one of the largest waste dumps in the city’s center: Agbogbloshie. As importing electronic waste as such is forbidden by law, Ghana receives 85% of these electronics via second-hand markets. Many of these imported devices have short lifespans and soon feed the informal waste and recycling economy.

Informal e-waste work provides essential livelihoods and shapes communities. At the same time, unsafe recycling practices, environmental pollution and limited regulatory oversight create serious risks for people and ecosystems. The exhibition asks what a just and circular future for electronics could look like.

A large white plastic bag filled with old, disassembled cell phones and electronic devices on a concrete floor. Two people's legs and shoes are visible near the bag.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project was made possible through the generous support of people working to improve Ghana’s e-waste sector. Special thanks to Pure Earth, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), and all interview partners.

EXHIBITIONS

23.08.2026 - 31.10.2026 // Deutsches Museum, München

04.06.2026 - 22.06.2026 // Académie du Climat, Paris

People gather near a landfill with smoke and small fires, with a body of water in the foreground and makeshift shelters in the background.
A large pile of old, dirty car batteries stacked on a rough concrete floor against a weathered wall.
A small scrap and catering shop with a sign reading 'Alhaji Sahaba Ben Scrap & Caterpillar'. In front of the shop, there are rusty engine parts and debris. Several people are busy working nearby, with one person grilling on a makeshift grill. The are
A large white woven bag with orange and black text, contains handwritten information including origin from Ghana, packing date, and batch number, placed on a dark surface.
A green fence surrounds a large pile of discarded electronic waste, including old televisions, inside a facility with a small building, metal roof, and a motorcycle parked outside. Mountain hills can be seen in the background under a cloudy sky.