Behind The Curtain Of Agbogbloshie’s Demolition: A Victim’s Perspective Beyond Revanchism

Abstract

In many cities across the global South, urban redevelopment initiatives have long been synonymous with large- scale demolitions that obscure the true objectives of city authorities under the guise of sanitizing the city. These interventions, steeped in revanchist ideologies, disproportionately target informal economies and yield evictions that devastate livelihoods. Despite these stark realities, academic discourse highlighting these phenomena remains limited, particularly within the Ghanaian context. In this article we use the demolition of the Agbogbloshie scrapyard as an entry point to examine the socioeconomic impacts of such interventions on the livelihoods of e- waste workers. Our findings, based on surveys of 350 workers and qualitative engagements, reveal the severe consequences of the demolition work, including substantial financial losses, destruction of physical assets, detrimental health impacts, and disruptions to essential working relationships. Yet, amid this upheaval, the resilience of these workers shines through as they adapt with grit, securing new workspaces, forming robust leadership structures, and formalizing their association to advocate for their rights and welfare. This resilience challenges their marginalization and forges new pathways to empowerment in the face of future evictions. Ultimately, the study calls for a rethinking of urban redevelopment—one that moves beyond demolition and embraces inclusive strategies that safeguard the livelihoods of informal workers.