Known as “Breathe Cities” the initiative is being spearheaded by the Clean Air Fund, a global philanthropic foundation tackling air pollution.

Speaking at the event, the Portfolio Manager of the Clean Air Fund, Dr Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour, expressed worry over the estimated 18,000 deaths in Ac­cra annually which has been attributed to air pollution-related illnesses.

He said 40 per cent of the air pollution in Ghana was due to vehicle emissions, adding that commercial hubs and densely populated areas contribut­ed significantly to this growing menace.
    

He stated that the project also sought to support the government’s efforts at combating air pollution by implement­ing targeted policies and interventions to mitigate the menace.

The Country Lead for Clean Air Fund in Ghana, Mr Desmond Appiah, in his address underscored the impor­tance of air quality monitoring in the country, lamenting the existing data gaps that hampered effective deci­sion-making.

He explained that the scarcity of air pollution monitoring systems in Ghana was a major challenge, emphasising the need for robust research to inform policy decisions.

He emphasised the transformative power of empowering cities to address­ing air pollution, saying the Breathe Cities initiative would provide Accra with the crucial support to strengthen its air quality data collection efforts.

This enhanced data, he said would offer a more comprehensive under­standing of the city’s air pollution lev­els, enabling development of targeted solutions.

“The Clean Air Fund has already supported over 300 projects globally, in­cluding 10 in Ghana,” Mr Appiah said.

He also revealed plans to increase fo­cus on child health issues in the coming year, noting that while air pollution was often invisible, its consequences were severe.

The urgency of collective action was also emphasised by Mr Appiah, who called on all stakeholders to contribute to the fight against the menace.

He expressed disappointment in the lack of interest from some poli­cymakers, despite extensive research demonstrating the harmful effects of air pollution.

To address this, the Clean Air Fund he said aims to localise research find­ings to resonate more strongly with decision-makers.

He explained that in addition to the health implications, the economic toll of air pollution in Ghana was signifi­cant, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Ghana loses approximately $2.5 billion annually due to the impacts of air pollution.

One major challenge highlighted by Mr Appiah is the mismanagement of household waste, which he said exacer­bates the pollution problem.

He therefore, stressed that addressing such challenges was crucial in all dis­cussions aimed at saving lives, reducing the burden on healthcare systems, and minimising economic losses.

He acknowledged the EPA’s pivotal role in addressing the air quality crisis and stressed the importance of con­tinued partnerships to achieve lasting solutions.

Meanwhile, the Director of Health at the Ayawaso West Municipal Health Di­rectorate, Dr Louisa Matey, highlighted the critical role of community engage­ment in combating air pollution.

She said raising awareness about the dangers of practices as open burning of household waste was essential.

According to her, prevention of air pollution-related illnesses required prac­tical measures at the community level, ensuring that residents understood the sources and consequences of pollu­tion and are motivated to adopt safer practices.