In a significant step towards tackling urban air pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a comprehensive five-year Air Quality Management Plan aimed at improving atmospheric conditions within the Greater Accra Region.
This came to light on Thursday when a delegation from the EPA, led by Acting Director Mrs. Selina Amoah, paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to seek active collaboration in rolling out the initiative.
Mrs. Amoah noted that the plan is informed by a four-year data-driven assessment of air pollution levels at key urban locations including Kaneshie First Light, Mallam Market, Tetteh Quarshie, and the University of Ghana. The results, she said, paint a troubling picture: Accra’s air pollution levels consistently exceed recommended thresholds, posing significant risks to public health and urban wellbeing.
“In response, we have proposed targeted interventions. One of these is to ensure the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) integrates emissions testing as a prerequisite for issuing roadworthy certificates,” she stated.
The EPA emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral involvement in addressing what is increasingly becoming a public health emergency, and called on the Ministry to lend its support in engaging local government structures and communities.
Officials of the Ministry welcomed the proposal with enthusiasm, expressing their readiness to partner with the EPA in implementing the strategy. They underscored the Ministry’s commitment to advancing sustainable urban development and affirmed that environmental protection remains a key pillar of local governance.
The engagement marks a new chapter in Ghana’s fight against air pollution where policy, science, and inter-agency collaboration converge for cleaner skies and healthier cities.
Source: Chantal Aidoo
(Public Relations Unit - MLGCRA)