Air quality in Ghana is poor-US Researcher hints

Air quality is not great in Ghana, a research conducted by Dr. Daniel M Westervelt, Ph.D, an Associate Research Scientist from Columbia University in New York has revealed.
According to him, the poor quality of air in Ghana has negative effects on the citizens both in a long and short term, especially health effects including Asthma.
Presenting findings of research conducted on air quality in Ghana, he noted that the poor quality of air is caused by air pollution which includes refuse burning, agricultural burning, vehicle emissions, large cities with a lot of inhabitants, regional biomass burning, and traditional pollutant sources such as industry.
Globally, he noted that air quality in America, United Kingdom, and Canada has improved while that of Africa, Especially West Africa needed more attention.
He observed that most of the African Countries which were not doing well with their air quality did not have data, a situation he noted does not allow the accurate tracking of the quality of air.
Way forward
Dr, M Westervelt, Ph.D, who identified the causes and effects of the poor air quality we have in Ghana, and West Africa as a whole recommended capacity building with local researchers, sharing knowledge, scholar exchange as some of the tools to tackling the issue.
He also recommended partnership networks amongst scientists, practitioners, citizens and local governments as ways of addressing poor quality of air.
To tackle air pollution, which is the major cause of the poor quality of air in Ghana, Dr, M Westervelt, Ph.D advised that the government increase awareness on the consequences of air pollution, as well as increase availability of data.
“People might not know the consequences of air pollution. The effect is not immediate and that’s why we need to educate them on the negative effects of polluting the air. Having data and sharing data is very important,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Environmental Quality Department at the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Emmanuel K.E.Appoh stated that Ghana was putting in place measures to ensure that the quality of air is being improved.
He urged individuals to stop burning refuse and substances that pollute the air so that Ghanaians will be saved from ailments caused by air pollution.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori