Green Growth Africa

Air pollution is a growing but often overlooked threat to the health and wellbeing of Ghana’s coastal communities. In many coastal areas, activities including fish smoking with traditional ovens, open burning of waste, outboard motor emissions and other forms of informal burning can release harmful pollutants into the air. Yet, there is limited reliable data showing the scale of the problem and how it affects the planet and people. The CARES project will establish air quality monitoring networks across selected coastal communities to generate reliable, publicly accessible information about pollution levels over the period. Evidence generated will help decision-makers better understand the dynamics of coastal air pollution, the underlining problems as well as guide national policy and practical actions. The project will support stronger air quality policies and strategies as well as reduce harmful emissions (from open burning of waste, fish smoking etc.) while contributing to healthier, safer coastal communities in Ghana.

Through the CARES project (Coastal Air Research For Everyone’s Safety), we hope to make the invisible air pollution challenges facing Ghana’s coastal communities visible, measurable and actionable. We will generate reliable, open-access air quality data from selected coastal communities to strengthen the evidence available to communities, policymakers and the Environmental Protection Authority. Ultimately, our ambition goes beyond monitoring air pollution. We want this evidence to drive concrete policy action, including the regulation of Coastal Air Quality Management and the integration of artisanal emission standards into Ghana’s national air quality strategy. We hope CARES will demonstrate that better data can lead to healthier communities, stronger policies and a safer coastal environment.

Mr. Allan Amoako-Gyedu, Director, Green Growth Africa