Poor Air Quality: A critical issue relegated, despite the dire consequences

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Poor Air Quality: A critical issue relegated, despite the dire consequences

Poor Air Quality: A critical issue relegated, despite the dire consequences

Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, says poor air quality poses a serious public health threat but remains insufficiently addressed in Ghana’s national discourse and policy implementation.

“Air pollution is a challenge we have not taken seriously, even though its consequences are enormous, impacting individuals, the economy, and our health systems,” he said.

He made the remarks at the opening of the Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP) Road Map Design and Development Meeting in Accra, hosted by the Ministry in partnership with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Dr Muhammed said millions of Ghanaians unknowingly inhaled polluted air daily without knowing its source or the significant harm it causesd to their health and the environment.

The ACAP process seeks to equip African countries with context-specific guidance and capacity to drive sustainable air quality improvements at the local, national, regional, and continental levels.

The Accra meeting, which opened on Tuesday, bought together participants from Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and South Africa, as well as experts from the United Kingdom and France.

Over the next two days, the gathering will update benchmarking reports and draft a roadmap aligned with existing initiatives to combat air pollution across Africa.

The meeting also provides a platform to showcase progress made by Champion Countries under the CCAC and exchange good practices.

Dr Muhammed reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to tackling air pollution, noting that the Government had already developed a National Air Quality Management Plan, deployed air quality monitoring sensors in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale to monitor air quality to inform policy decisions.

The Government had distributed nearly two million improved cookstoves to enhance indoor air quality, integrated climate and air quality goals through the country’s Renewable Energy Master Plan, which aims at 100 per cent electricity access by 2030, with 10 per cent sourced from modern renewables.

The establishment of a Ministry responsible for climate change and sustainability underscored the Government’s intent to take decisive action, Dr Mohammed said.

“We are not just managing air quality – we are redefining environmental governance through data, policy, and citizen-focused interventions,” he said.

Madam Martina Otto, the Head, CCAC Secretariat, called on countries to treat clean air not just as an environmental objective but a strategic investment towards maintaining public health, economic productivity, and social wellbeing.

“Clean air is not just an environmental goal; it is an investment in thriving economies and societies,” she said.

She emphasised the transboundary nature of air pollution, requiring coordinated regional cooperation and locally tailored solutions.

Madam Otto highlighted Ghana’s role as a Champion Country in leading innovative and collaborative solutions, pointing out the need for country-led approaches, which ensured that actions were embedded in national systems and aligned with broader frameworks such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.

“The role of Champion Countries like Ghana is not about standing apart – it’s about leading by example, piloting new approaches, and fostering collaboration through centres of excellence,” she said.

She reiterated CCAC’s commitment to technical and financial support for the ACAP initiative, including a $1-million seed fund announced at the previous ministerial meeting.

Source: GNA

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