By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi July 08, GNA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from Breathe Cities, has launched an “Investment Case” for improved ambient air quality and health in Ghana to provide evidence on the health and economic impacts of air pollution and guide investments and policy action.
The publication, described as the strongest evidence base to date on the effects of ambient air pollution in Ghana, outlines a roadmap for coordinated investments and interventions aimed at improving air quality and safeguarding public health.
Air pollution remains one of the leading environmental threats to public health, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and premature deaths, while imposing significant economic costs on the nation.
According to the report, ambient air pollution costs Ghana an estimated US$1.9 billion annually in health-related expenses and lost productivity, representing about 2.3 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The findings also revealed that excess ambient air pollution is linked to more than 12,870 deaths and over 316,000 cases of disease annually in Ghana, with approximately 64 per cent of the deaths classified as premature.
Developed through consultations involving government institutions, development partners, academia and civil society organisations, the Investment Case identifies priority interventions in the transport, energy, waste management, urban planning and environmental governance sectors.
The report is intended to support policymakers, development partners, and investors in prioritising actions that improve air quality while delivering long-term health, climate, and economic benefits.
At the launch, participants were taken through the findings of the report, which quantified the health and economic burden of ambient air pollution in Ghana and proposed measures to reduce emissions, strengthen environmental health systems and protect vulnerable populations.
The report also provides an evidence-based framework to support policy decisions, mobilise investments, and enhance multi-sectoral collaboration on air quality management.
Speaking at the event, Ms Shaima Hussein, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, emphasised the importance of addressing air pollution as part of Ghana’s sustainable development agenda.
“Health is both a driver and an outcome of sustainable development. Addressing the social, structural, economic and environmental determinants of health including air pollution is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequities,” she stated.
Ms Hussein noted that the Investment Case marked an important step towards translating research and evidence into practical, multi-sectoral solutions that would improve public health while advancing Ghana’s sustainable development ambitions.
Dr Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour, Portfolio Manager of Breathe Cities, said the report provided a practical roadmap for coordinated action by quantifying the cost of air pollution, identifying priority interventions and highlighting key stakeholders required to drive change.
Mr Solomon Laryea, representing the Climate Change and Health Technical Working Group of the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to translating the report’s findings into concrete policies, investments and interventions.
He said strengthening air quality actions would contribute significantly to the implementation of Ghana’s Health National Adaptation Plan, advancing a more climate-resilient and healthier health system.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah
Email: [email protected]