- Study led by Dr. Dan Westervelt analyzed 20 years of satellite and ground data
- PM2.5 levels in urban areas are 5–10 times higher than WHO guidelines
- Accra records highest pollution, driven by traffic, industry, household burning, and diesel generators
Air pollution in Ghana’s major cities is on the rise, with recent research showing harmful fine particles far exceeding safe health limits. Experts warn this trend poses a serious public health threat, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
The study, led by Dr. Dan Westervelt, Lamont Associate Research Professor at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, analyzed 20 years of satellite data, weather patterns, and ground-level readings.
Findings revealed consistently high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, at levels five to ten times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline of five micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 refers to tiny dust and smoke particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease, lung damage, stroke, and asthma.
Dr. Westervelt told the Ghana News Agency that Accra recorded the highest pollution levels, driven by heavy traffic, industrial activities, household burning, and emissions from diesel generators.
He noted that Kumasi and Tamale were also heavily affected by local pollution sources and Saharan dust transported during the Harmattan season. Tamale experienced the strongest Harmattan peaks, with PM2.5 concentrations sometimes exceeding 100 micrograms per cubic metre.
“The health implications are alarming. Our report estimates that more than 16,000 adults died prematurely in 2023 alone due to long-term exposure to PM2.5,” Dr. Westervelt said.
He called on authorities to implement stricter measures to reduce emissions from transport, waste burning, and industrial activities, while also recommending public education and real-time air quality monitoring to help residents avoid high-pollution periods.
Without swift intervention, Dr. Westervelt warned, air pollution will continue to shorten life expectancy, strain the healthcare system, and hinder Ghana’s progress toward cleaner cities.
Air pollution is already one of Ghana’s deadliest public health threats. In 2023, it claimed over 32,000 lives, according to the State of Global Air 2025 report by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
The report showed that air pollution was responsible for nearly 14% of all deaths in Ghana last year, making it the second leading risk factor after high blood pressure.
Earlier, the WHO estimated that around 28,000 Ghanaians died prematurely in 2019 due to polluted air. By 2025, that figure had risen by over 4,000, highlighting a worrying trend.
The Air Quality Life Index 2025 report also noted that dirty air is reducing the average Ghanaian’s life expectancy by nearly nine months. Globally, air pollution continues to cause around 7.9 million deaths annually, with Ghana experiencing a comparatively high burden.
