In a landmark event addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Ghana and the global community, JoyNews hosted a high-profile National Dialogue on Clean Air in collaboration with the Clean Air Fund and Breathe Cities.
The event brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, environmental experts, and advocates to raise awareness and foster collaborative solutions to tackle air pollution and its detrimental effects on public health and climate change.
Held at the Ghana Institution of Engineering, the dialogue highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to combat air pollution, a growing concern in urban centers across the country. It also emphasized the importance of political parties incorporating clean air initiatives into their manifestos.
The dialogue featured an array of insightful manifesto discussion from Issah Abdul Salaam, the CPP Ashanti Regional Secretary. Dr. Sandra Kwateng Owusu, Senior Lecturer of the School of Medical Sciences, KNUST and Prof. Kofi Amegah, Vice-Dean of the School of Public Health UCC and Dr. Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour, Portfolio Manager of the Clean Air Fund and the Breathe Cities also engaged with the audiences through an interactive session which highlighted the latest scientific findings, policy measures, and technological innovations aimed at improving air quality.
Deputy Ambassador for the Embassy of Denmark, Her Excellency Vibeke Sandholm Pedersen, highlighted the need for Ghana to invest in clean air initiatives whilst giving her remarks on the dialogue. “The cost of air pollution isn’t environmental but rather economic as it implies lost working days, lower life expectancies, reduced productivity, rising health costs, and all these have a negative impact on the nation’s economy. Thus, clean air isn’t a moral imperative but rather a smart investment”, she stated.
Ghana has been grappling with serious air pollution challenges, particularly in the main cities like Accra and Kumasi and this can be attributed to emissions from vehicles, industrial activities and waste burning.
To address this issue, the Danish Embassy also highlighted a partner with the Ghanaian government to introduce innovative solutions.
Investing in clean air is closely tied to sustainable development. Short-term economic gains that come at the expense of the environment can lead to long-term costs. For example, pollution can harm agricultural production, damage ecosystems, and deplete resources. By prioritizing clean air, we can foster sustainable industries and infrastructure that will be more resilient over time.
Also in a conscious effort to address the issue of air pollution in Ghana. The Denmark Embassy proposed a partnership plan with Ghana to transform Ghana’s use of non-renewable sources of energy to renewable sources to boost the economic sector of Ghana.
“Denmark is working with Ghana on mitigating the sources of air pollution in Ghana in some areas. An example is Denmark’s donation of 280 million cedis to the World Bank Clean Cooking Fund through an adaptation of liquefied petroleum gas among households in Ghana. We will also work to reduce air pollution in Ghana through our corporation under the Accelerated Partnerships for Renewables in Africa (APRA) to transform the energy systems to renewable sources,” she added.
Based on statistics, the current real-time Air Quality Index of Denmark as of 21st November 2024 is 15 which is deemed good. Denmark has been a front runner for cleaner since the 1970s due to the strict regulations enforced by the Danish government to promote clean air. Although this strategic plan comes with economic costs, the Danes are benefitting massively from improved air quality.
With shared vision and commitment, the efforts made by both Ghana and Denmark in the form of a partnership, signal a brighter, cleaner future for Ghana as we take a step forward to combat air pollution. This will enable Ghana to become front runners when it comes to clean air in the years to come.
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