Yussif Suleman
The government has launched a Quality Air Monitoring Network to strengthen Ghana’s fight against air pollution and improve data-driven decision-making.
The initiative was unveiled in Accra during the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2025 by Yussif Suleman, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Bole-Bamboi, who also represented the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and caretaker Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah.
Suleman commended the United Nations for designating 7 September as a day to raise awareness about air pollution and its impacts on health, the economy, and the environment.
“On behalf of the government of Ghana, I wish to commend the UN for establishing this international day, which draws attention to air pollution, its impacts on our planet, economies and public health, and also the need for urgent solutions,” he said.
Clean air as a human right
The deputy minister stressed that access to clean air should not be seen as a trade-off against economic development, but rather as a matter of justice and survival.
“Air is a crucial resource for the survival of the entire ecosystem,” Suleman said. “However, our current activities are impacting the quality of air that sustains our very existence. We must see clean air not as an obstacle to economic development but as justice, a livable future, and indeed, a fundamental human right.”
He cautioned that climate change was compounding the challenge, adding that “air pollution is not merely an environmental concern, it is a pressing public health crisis, a threat to our climate and a barrier to our economic progress.”
Citing the State of the Global Air (SOGA) 2024 Report, Suleman said air pollution is now the second leading risk factor for death worldwide, accounting for 8.1 million premature deaths in 2021.
“In Ghana, the WHO 2020 report estimated that more than 28,000 people die each year from exposure to air pollution. This number is projected to increase if no action is taken,” he said.
He added that particulate matter is now “the biggest external threat to human life expectancy,” linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases.
The deputy minister also warned about the financial burden of pollution, citing the World Bank’s 2017 Country Environmental Analysis, which put the economic cost at US$3.5 billion annually, equivalent to 4.2% of GDP.
“The cost of air pollution to Ghana’s two largest cities, Accra and Kumasi, is estimated at US$264 million every year. This should be a cause for concern to all of us,” Suleman said.
Quality Air Monitoring Network
Launching the Quality Air Monitoring Network, Suleman said the system would provide critical data to guide interventions.
“The simplest thing, ladies and gentlemen, is that data is critical. It helps us track the impact of emissions, devise appropriate solutions, and empower people to make informed decisions to protect themselves,” he explained.
According to him, the network will be expanded nationwide to strengthen enforcement. “The time to act is now. Monitoring results already show high levels of pollutants above national standards, especially at roadside locations. We cannot ignore this reality.”
Government interventions
The deputy minister outlined several steps government will pursue alongside the network. These include expanding air quality monitoring nationwide, introducing real-time monitoring, promoting best practices such as circular economy models and cleaner technologies, strictly enforcing emission laws, promoting cleaner household energy, working with assemblies to curb open-air burning, and collaborating with stakeholders to pave roads to reduce dust emissions.
Call to action
This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Raising for Air”, which underscores urgent action.
“The challenge of air pollution is a collective one, and so too must be the solution,” Suleman said. “Investing in clean air today may seem expensive, but the consequences of inaction will be far worse.”
He urged all Ghanaians to embrace sustainable practices such as maintaining vehicles, avoiding open burning of waste, and supporting cleaner energy technologies.
“The decisions we take today will determine the quality of life for the present and future generations,” he said.
“Let us work together across sectors and borders to ensure that clean air is a reality for us and for those who will come after us.”
Reporting by Abigail Teye
