Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that the quality of air in the country’s capital, Accra is harmful.
The country is currently experiencing the harmattan season and as such Ghanaians are observing blurred visions due to the presence of fog.
Accra’s air is presently polluted, thus unsafe for respiration, and according to the EPA, this is because there is a lot of dust in the atmosphere raised from the Sahara region.
The EPA arrived at this conclusion based on satellite images from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET).
According to the Agency, “this dust is being transported by low level strong winds into the country” thus the very dry and dusty weather being experienced over the northern, transition zones and part of the south.
The Agency noted that this is not a peculiar situation since it is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the harmattan season and can be corroborated by data on particulate level gathered over the period by its team.
Data on the quality of air
Between February 1-19, 2023, Accra’s air quality was largely moderate except for February 15-16 when it increased to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Between February 17 and 19, 2023, the pollutant levels worsened to “ very unhealthy” status (PM2.5) exceeding the national limit and World Health Organisation (WHO) interim target 3 values of 35 and 25μg/m3 respectively.
The air quality index was recorded at the EPA’s Monitoring Site located at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Meanwhile, GMET has noted that the entire country will remain hazy during the start of the week. From midweek into the weekend, improved visibility and moist conditions are expected especially within southern Ghana.
Source: The Independent Ghana