An Exploration of Environmental and Human Dimensions.
This summer, the 13th edition of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award shines a spotlight on the ecological and human challenges posed by e-waste in Ghana. The award, dedicated to investigating the transboundary flow of electronic waste, is showcasing exhibitions at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the Fondation MRO in Arles.
The prestigious award was granted to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and photojournalists Muntaka Chasant and Bénédicte Kurzen. From February 2023 to February 2024, with support from the Fondation Carmignac, they conducted an extensive field study spanning Ghana and Europe.
The Netherlands, Rotterdam, June 2023. © Bénédicte Kurzen for Fondation Carmignac / NOOR
In 2022 alone, a staggering 62 million tons of e-waste were generated globally, with only 22.3% being properly recycled. The influx of e-waste into West African countries like Ghana, often in violation of international treaties, has resulted in the proliferation of informal landfill sites. This issue was exacerbated by the dismantling of the Agbogbloshie scrapyard in July 2021.
Anas, Chasant, and Kurzen dedicated a year to documenting this complex ecosystem. Their interdisciplinary approach integrates photography, video, audio recordings, and written narratives, moving beyond simplistic portrayals of Ghana as “the dustbin of the world” to offer a nuanced perspective.
Kurzen’s work focuses on documenting the flow of e-waste and the communities involved, challenging stereotypes and exposing bureaucratic inefficiencies in Europe. In Accra, Chasant conducted a sociological analysis of the e-waste economy, revealing its organizational structure and migration patterns from northeast Ghana. Anas delved into Accra’s ports, uncovering both legal and illegal e-waste flows and the corruption enabling them.
Repairers and often parts sellers. Broken electronics get dismantled and reused. Ghanaians, but also Nigerians work here. / The Netherlands, Rotterdam, June 2023. © Bénédicte Kurzen for Fondation Carmignac / NOOR
Chasant, a Ghanaian documentary photographer, explores themes of environmental sociology and human geography. Kurzen, a French photographer, engages in cross-cultural narratives and mythologies. Anas, renowned for his undercover journalism and anti-corruption campaigns, uses his investigative work to drive significant legal and social changes.
Together, their comprehensive investigation sheds crucial light on the global e-waste crisis and its profound impact on Ghana. Their work advocates for sustainable solutions and greater accountability in managing electronic waste, aiming to provoke meaningful change on both local and global scales.