Air Pollution's Deadly Toll In Ghana

Ghana is one of the few African countries with real-time air pollution monitors, but the availability of air quality data is limited. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes 28,000 premature deaths in Ghana annually, making it the second biggest health threat in the country. The main sources of poor air quality in Ghana are open waste burning, cooking with wood and charcoal, road transport, and industrial activity. The effects of air pollution exposure can be particularly harmful to vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing illnesses.

Sources of air pollution in Ghana

Ghana is one of only seven African countries with real-time air pollution monitors. However, the availability and accessibility of air quality data are limited. The national government does not have a nationwide air quality policy or targets. Still, there are sector-specific policies and guidelines that address air pollution, as well as clean air initiatives in Accra.

According to the World Health Organization (2020), 28,000 premature deaths are recorded every year as a result of air pollution in Ghana. The annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in Ghana was 11 times higher than the WHO 2021 recommended concentration levels in 2019. Air pollution is the second highest health risk factor for death and disability, after malnutrition. Young children and adults over 50 are most at risk of disease and premature death.

Poor air quality in Ghana is mainly caused by open waste burning, cooking using wood and charcoal, road transport, slash-and-burn methods of farming, energy generation, accidental fires, and industrial emissions.

Accra, Africa's fastest-growing city, is expected to grow to 9.6 million people by 2050. Accra's vast networks of roads remain unpaved and dusty, producing higher PM2.5 concentrations through resuspended dust. The Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project aims to improve public transport services and urban mobility through better regulation. This includes regulating Tro-tros and expanding the metro and public bus fleet networks to reduce PM2.5 and CO2e emissions in the city.

There are also policy initiatives to tax industrial and vehicular emissions, applying the 'polluter pays' principle to reduce air pollution from industrial and vehicle sources. GhanaThink Foundation is building a movement of young campaigners to champion clean air to residents and political leaders.

Health risks of air pollution

Air pollution is a severe health risk, causing 28,000 premature deaths in Ghana each year. It is the second most significant threat to health in the country, after malnutrition. Young children and adults over 50 are most at risk of disease and premature mortality caused by air pollution.

The main pathway of exposure to air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Air pollution causes inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs. Fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and travel to other organs, causing systemic damage to tissues and cells. This can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter increases the risk of non-communicable diseases with longer onsets, such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.

Several factors affect an individual's level of risk from air pollution. The higher the exposure, the greater the risk of harm. Those most susceptible to the adverse health impacts of air pollution include pregnant women, children, older adults, and people living with chronic conditions, especially heart and lung disease. Additionally, people of color are more likely to be exposed to air pollution and suffer more significant harm to their health due to systemic racism and historical discrimination. Low-income individuals are also more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution due to limited access to resources and healthcare.

The sources of air pollution in Ghana are diverse and include open waste burning, cooking with wood and charcoal, road transport, slash-and-burn farming methods, energy generation, accidental fires, and industrial activities. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 pollution in Ghana was 11 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended levels in 2021.

Air pollution in Accra

Ghana is one of only seven African countries with real-time air pollution monitors, but the availability and accessibility of air quality data are limited. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes 28,000 premature deaths in Ghana each year, making it the second biggest health threat in the country after malnutrition.

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is the fastest-growing city in Africa. More than 4 million people live in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, with a daily influx of 2.5 million business commuters. Accra's population is expected to grow to 9.6 million by 2050, and the city currently accounts for 34% of Ghana's GDP and 14% of the country's total population. The levels of air pollution in Accra are affected by seasonal variation, particularly during the dry season when there are high peaks due to desert dust. However, throughout the year, anthropogenic sources of air pollution, such as road transport, keep average values high and have serious health impacts. In fact, almost half of Accra's PM2.5 concentrations are attributable to road transport (39%), which is linked to inadequate public transport infrastructure. Privately owned vehicles account for the rest of Accra's traffic congestion and exhaust fumes. The Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project aims to improve public transport services and reduce emissions in the city through better regulation.

Emissions from industry and manufacturing also contribute heavily to air pollution in Accra (11%), along with automobile spraying and carpentry. Biomass fuels used in most power generators are a significant source of the city's total PM2.5 concentration. 60% of households still use charcoal and wood as their primary household fuel, and waste generation, which is increasing at a rapid pace across Accra, accounts for 5% of the city's air pollution. Accra generates nearly 900,000 metric tons of solid waste annually, which is expected to double by 2030 as more households burn their daily solid waste. The recovery of metals from e-waste through burning is a contributor to toxic air, with Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra, releasing a mix of highly toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.

The costs of air pollution in Accra are significant, impacting the health, well-being, and socio-economic prospects of its inhabitants. The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Ghana in 2019 was 11 times higher than the WHO 2021 recommended concentration levels. Implementing clean air interventions in Accra from 2023-2040 could save approximately $216 million, which is about 20% of the Ghanaian government's total health budget for 2022. Additionally, reducing air pollution emissions could prevent approximately 1,790 deaths per year in Accra, according to WHO estimates.

Clean air initiatives in Ghana

Ghana is a leader in various clean air initiatives, including the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), of which it is a founding partner. The country has also been a steering committee member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) since 2012, and has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2030. Ghana is also working to provide universal access to clean cooking solutions and electricity for its island and riverside communities.

Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a significant issue in Ghana, causing approximately 28,000 premature deaths annually and posing the second greatest threat to health in the country after malnutrition. The primary sources of poor air quality in Ghana include open waste burning, cooking with wood and charcoal, road transport, slash-and-burn farming, energy generation, accidental fires, and industry.

To address these challenges, Ghana has implemented several clean air initiatives. The Ghana Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project aims to improve public transport services and reduce emissions by regulating Tro-tros and expanding the metro and public bus fleets. Additionally, policies such as waiving import duties for electric vehicles and taxing industrial and vehicular emissions are being introduced to reduce air pollution from vehicles and industries.

Accra, the capital city, has been a focal point for many clean air efforts. It joined the CCAC's Breathelife campaign in 2018, becoming the first African city to do so. Accra is also part of the Breathe Cities initiative, working to improve air quality in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and C40 Cities. The city could save approximately \$216 million by implementing clean air interventions from 2023 to 2040, which would also reduce 3,800 deaths and significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, Ghana is one of only seven African countries with real-time air pollution monitors, and organisations like the Clean Air Fund and New Narratives are working to raise public awareness and influence policymakers to prioritise clean air. The Green Africa Youth Organization's Zero Waste Accra project, for example, addresses open waste burning by partnering with waste pickers and informal workers to remove organic, plastic, and electronic waste from landfills. These collective efforts demonstrate Ghana's commitment to improving air quality and mitigating the health impacts of air pollution.

Air quality monitoring in Ghana

Ghana is one of only seven African countries with real-time air pollution monitors. However, the availability and accessibility of air quality data are limited. The national government does not have a nationwide air quality policy or targets. However, there are sector-specific policies and guidelines that address air pollution, as well as clean air initiatives in Accra.

According to the World Health Organization, 28,000 premature deaths are recorded every year as a result of air pollution in Ghana. The annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in Ghana was 11 times higher than the WHO's 2021 recommended levels in 2019. The PM2.5 concentration is currently 6.6 times the WHO's annual guideline value.

The US Embassy in Accra has installed an air quality monitor (AQM) on its grounds in the Cantonments area. The data for the Embassy’s AQM is available at the EPA AirNow website. The monitor measures PM2.5 particulates in the air on and near the Embassy compound. PM 2.5 is believed to pose the largest health risks. The US EPA has developed a formula to convert PM 2.5 readings into an air quality index (AQI) value that can be used to make health-related decisions. An AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ghana, with the support of the World Bank Pollution Management and Environmental Health project, installed two other state-of-the-art air quality monitoring systems – one at the University of Ghana in Legon and another at St. The collaboration among the U.S. Embassy in Accra, EPA Ghana, the University of Ghana, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank Group, and other partners to establish three air quality monitoring stations in Accra will provide state-of-the-art, timely data on air pollution in the Accra Metropolitan Area. All three monitors measure PM2.5 black carbon and weather data, including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction.

The Clean Air Fund's partners also raise political and public awareness. New Narratives supports journalists in Ghana in investigating and reporting on air pollution in a way that resonates with the public and influences decision-makers. Investigative reporting is crucial to raising public awareness and influencing policymakers to take action on clean air. The Afri-SET centre promotes the widespread and responsible uptake of low-cost air quality sensors in West Africa. This will help increase air quality monitoring capacity and directly support effective health and environmental policymaking in the region.

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