By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Air pollution has become the single largest cause of premature deaths in Ghana, overtaking malaria, HIV/AIDS and road accidents combined, according to a groundbreaking study published in September 2025.
The research, conducted by PSS Urbania Consult with support from the Clean Air Fund, reveals that more than 30,000 people die each year from diseases linked to toxic air, including asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.
Data from across Accra
Between August 2024 and September 2025, researchers monitored more than 60 sites across the Greater Accra Region, measuring pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
The study identified Ablekuma Central, Ashiedu Keteke, Ayawaso Central, Korle Klottey and La Dade Kotopon among the areas with the most dangerous levels of pollution.
Accra’s air quality was also analysed using data from IQAir, the Swiss-based global air monitoring platform. It showed that in 2024, Accra recorded an annual average of 36.3 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is more than seven times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Even in real-time measurements this year, Accra’s PM2.5 concentrations have averaged about 23 µg/m³, nearly five times the WHO’s safe threshold.
Health and economic toll
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has repeatedly warned that prolonged exposure to polluted air worsens cases of asthma, pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases. Hospitals in Accra and Kumasi report a steady rise in such cases, especially among children and the elderly.
The World Bank’s 2022 report on air quality in Sub-Saharan Africa estimated that poor air contributes to economic losses amounting to up to 4% of GDP in heavily affected countries due to healthcare costs and lost productivity.
Government response
To address the crisis, Parliament recently passed the Air Quality Management Regulations, 2025, giving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greater power to monitor pollution and enforce compliance.
Municipal assemblies, working with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, have validated local action plans that target vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, open waste burning, and the widespread use of charcoal and firewood in households.
International partners, including the Clean Air Fund and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have urged Ghana to integrate clean air goals into its climate change commitments, arguing that investing in cleaner fuels, renewable energy and efficient public transport will deliver both public health benefits and economic returns.
The road ahead
Accra’s battle with air pollution is part of a wider national challenge, but experts insist solutions exist. The WHO projects that if Ghana adopts aggressive air quality policies, the country could meet international safety standards by 2040, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives.
For now, researchers stress that public awareness, community action, and strict enforcement of environmental laws are essential. Without them, the invisible killer in Ghana’s sky will continue to shorten lives and undermine national development.
