By Maltiti Sayida Saddick and Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse has highlighted during the EELL 2025 Canada Conference, the challenges Ghana has and continues to face in relation to pollution as well as Climate Change.
According to her, air pollution remains Ghana’s number one environmental health risk and the sixth- ranked cause of death (out of 19 total risk factors) nationwide. Water pollution costs Ghana nearly 3% of GDP annually and leads to about 10,600 premature deaths each year.
She added that Ghana generates approximately 3,000 metric tons of plastic waste daily (1.1 million tons annually) — 86% of which is mismanaged.
Addressing the gathering at the Pan African Centre for Climate Policy on the topic; Strengthening Ghana’s Climate (Environmental) Resilience:
The Role of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Klutse revealed that the agency has installed Air Quality Monitoring Stations in cities such as Accra, Kumasi, Tema, Takoradi, and Tamale which measure pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO and publish daily Air Quality Index (AQI) reports to the public.
She added that Clean Air Accra Project has also been Implemented in collaboration with the World Bank, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST) as well as ongoing talks to phase out the importation of old, high-emission vehicles.
Still highlighting mechanisms to guard against air pollution, Prof. Klutse stated that through the “Breathe Clean, Live Green” and “Clean Air for Accra” public awareness campaigns.
Addressing water pollution, Prof. Klutse mentioned there has been Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment.
“The EPA partners with the Ghana Armed Forces, Minerals Commission, and NIMOS to stop illegal mining.
Polluted rivers are being rehabilitated, and communities are encouraged to engage in re- afforestation and alternative livelihoods such as aquaculture and sustainable farming”, she said.
Speaking on waste and plastic management, the EPA boss stated that the National Plastics Management Policy (NPMP) is in full operation just as the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) is for climate change.
Present at the event was the Conference Chair of the conference, Chief of Ekumfi Abaka, Nana Appa Korankye VII, who mentioned that the conference was about environmental education and lifelong learning focused on climate change adaptability.
According to him, promoting environmental resilience and sustainable use of our natural resources is a way of protecting the environment.
Conference Coordinator, Kwame Anane Frimpong also present at the conference called for all to be involved in tackling environmental crisis.
“As a true reflection of this guideline, the elderly and the young, the weak and the strong, every person plays a crucial role in tackling the challenges we face especially those related to the environment”, he said.
Mr. Frimpong further urged participants to leave at the end of the conference with a concrete plan of action that would drive beautiful change in our communities and beyond.
