Air pollution in Ghana, driven by ageing vehicles, industrial activities, and waste burning, is a growing concern with alarming implications for public health.
Particulate matter (PM2.5) remains a particularly dangerous pollutant, contributing to severe respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
Globally, air pollution ranks as the second-leading risk factor for death, responsible for 8.1 million fatalities annually. Urban areas in Ghana, especially Accra, are facing escalating pollution levels.
As the December 2024 elections approach, political parties have released their manifestos, but their strategies for addressing air pollution remain under scrutiny. At the National Dialogue on Clean Air, organised by JoyNews in collaboration with the Clean Air Fund and Breathe Cities, political parties outlined their proposed solutions to improve air quality.
Desmond Appiah, Country Lead for the Clean Air Fund, underscored the need for a collective approach to address the issue.
“I’ve themed my conversation ‘unifying for clean air,’ because that is a common denominator. It doesn’t matter our political ideology – the common factor is that all of us breathe clean air,” he said.
Appiah criticized the lack of enforcement despite existing air quality laws and emphasized the need for focused policies to mitigate climate change and enhance public health.
“What is our resource allocation toward tackling this particular challenge? We need deliberate interventions to improve the quality of air, mitigate climate change, and help us live better lives,” he added.
Courage Nobi, Deputy Director for Policy at the Movement for Change, highlighted plans to strengthen environmental governance.
He noted that the party aims to enhance the enforcement of environmental laws at the community level and to review the constitution to ensure local government officials are directly accountable to citizens.
“The election of MMDCEs [Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives] will make officials more answerable to the people. Citizens will then feel empowered to address environmental issues in their local areas,” he explained.
On transport, the party plans to establish car assembly plants in Ghana to reduce the influx of used vehicles, which contribute significantly to air pollution.
“We will also promote clean energy solutions by encouraging the adoption of solar energy over fossil fuels,” he added.
Issah Abdul Salam, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), outlined his party’s proposal to replace old polluting vehicles with environmentally friendly ones through a hire-purchase scheme.
“Under our government, trotro drivers will receive support to replace their old vehicles. Some of these vehicles are 30 to 40 years old and need to be taken off the roads,” he said.
Salam also stressed the importance of renewable energy, advocating for increased solar energy usage and strict enforcement against waste burning.
“We will minimize the burning of waste and enforce laws to ensure air quality is preserved,” he concluded.
While key political figures attended the dialogue, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) were absent, despite initial confirmations. This raised questions about their commitment to addressing air quality.
The NPP manifesto highlights plans for transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) through infrastructure development, local EV production, and tax incentives. However, these proposals focus more on future aspirations than addressing the current air pollution crisis. The manifesto also mentions strengthening the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and establishing environmental courts to enhance law enforcement.
The NDC manifesto acknowledges the health impacts of air pollution and promises to strengthen air quality monitoring and address greenhouse gas emissions. It also pledges to remove the emissions levy introduced by the NPP, citing economic hardships. However, it lacks detailed, actionable solutions for reducing urban air pollution.
The Clean Air Fund launched a clean air manual during the event to guide political parties in implementing effective policies.
As Ghana approaches the December elections, it is evident that political parties are beginning to recognize the severity of air pollution.
However, their manifestos and policies fall short of the comprehensive solutions needed to combat this pressing public health issue. Ghanaians must demand stronger and more actionable interventions from those vying for leadership to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future.