A comprehensive system to track air-quality indices with monthly monitoring and reporting, 85% public awareness, at least 75% compliance with national regulations, and a 40% reduction in emissions are the four pillars of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) response plan to reduce air pollution by 2030.
The Assembly claims that the plan includes citywide education, stricter laws and penalties, direct source-control measures, such as prohibiting open burning of waste, and ongoing implementation, oversight, and enforcement.
The response, according to Accra Mayor Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, comes after assessments by the AMA’s Public Health Department in partnership with SSP Urbania, which found that the main sources of pollution in the city were open burning, light industry, dumpsites, transportation, dust from open surfaces and construction, and firewood use.
He claimed that weekly concentration profiles for sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) showed consistent increases at Agbogbloshie Market, Makola Market, and the AMA Head Office area, highlighting the health hazards to locals.
He pointed out that if market clusters and transport hubs are reached by compliance campaigns, enforcement against open burning is maintained, and regular data collection is maintained to inform interventions, Best-Case Scenario (BCS) models demonstrate that the 2030 targets are attainable.
He pointed out that the monitoring data for all three sub-metros routinely showed nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) values beyond WHO recommended limits, frequently by two to five times.
Ashiedu-Keteke closely follows, with Agbogbloshie and Makola emerging as persistent pollution hotspots, while Okaikoi South showed regular exceedances of PM₂.₅ and NO₂. Mayor Allotey said Ablekuma South recorded the most alarming figures, especially at Korle Bu Gate, where NO₂ levels spiked nearly five times the WHO 24-hour guideline.
Source: newsthemegh.com