Ghana EPA and KNUST to launch national air quality data hub

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Ghana is in the advanced stages of establishing a national air quality data hub in partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The initiative aims to merge existing monitoring systems into a single platform, allowing users to visualize air quality data across monitored areas.

This development follows concerns regarding severe pollution in regions such as Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama. Pollution in these areas is driven by vehicle carbon emissions, methane from general waste, and the open burning of e-waste. Data indicates that Agbogbloshie has consistently recorded pollutant levels exceeding both the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and Ghana EPA standards.

The project builds upon the Ghana Urban Air Quality Project, established in 2019, and the BREATHE ACCRA project launched in 2022. Funded by the Clean Air Fund, these efforts have deployed low-cost sensors across 13 districts in Greater Accra to track and manage urban air quality.