Blog 28 April 2025
Air pollution is a significant problem in Ghana, posing severe health risks. An estimated 28,000 Ghanaians die prematurely each year due to air pollution. Public awareness of air pollution’s causes and effects is low. Existing public agencies and civil society organisations do not have the requisite funding, reach or influence to provide education and awareness.
To raise awareness of the impacts of and solutions to air pollution, we at GhanaThink wanted to harness the power of young people. The #CleanAirGhana project set out to galvanise a youth movement for clean air in Ghana in 2023. We identified and nurtured air quality champions to provide information and data to drive local advocacy. We worked with social media influencers to drive awareness and education about the issues and solutions. And we engaged community leaders to drive youth advocacy to demand implementation of existing air pollution legislation, policy and plans.
Supporting young people to become advocates
With a focus on youth-led initiatives, the project’s aim to raise awareness, enforce regulations, and empower young leaders to advocate for clean air was achieved through some key activities.
We supported young people to become Community Leaders in various regions in Ghana, who undertake initiatives within their communities, including clean up exercises and engagements with the government’s Environmental Protection Agency. These community led clean-up exercise initiatives brought together volunteers to address localised sources of air pollution in their respective communities.
Beyond BarCamps, GhanaThink organised a number of ‘Konnect’ meetups across Ghana to discuss experiences around air pollution and possible solutions. 36 meet-ups attracted 942 participants from across the country. In addition to knowledge exchange, these meetings led to networking and increased connectivity among like-minded youth, opening new potential collaboration opportunities around clean air and environmental sustainability.
To maximise the gains from these discussions, GhanaThink created the ‘Clean Air Ambassadors’ WhatsApp Community to further connect young people. The community ensures continuous interaction, exchange of news and resources, and collaboration. The group has facilitated highly interactive discussions around barriers to air quality enforcement in Ghana, with limited capacity and resourcing of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pointed out as a key drawback to effective air pollution mitigation. Some of these participants and others engaged through the #CleanAirGhana project have been implementing solutions around preventing air pollution and advocating for air quality.
Meet some of the clean air advocates
Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith is based in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The region has very few tarred roads. The dust means that residents are forced to deal with respiratory issues on a daily basis. The problem is compounded by the fast depletion of green cover in a Savannah rocky area. Mark is interested in what we can all do as communities to help ourselves. In his role as the #CleanAirGhana Community Leader for Bolgatanga, he led three Konnect Meetups on clean air, where youth in Bolgatanga were educated on and discussed these air quality issues.
He has raised awareness of these environmental hazards, emphasising the need for reforestation, sustainable road infrastructure, and responsible land use.
As a journalist and documentary photographer, Mark uses storytelling to highlight the air quality challenges in Ghana’s Upper East Region. His work involves capturing compelling visual narratives, engaging communities, and amplifying local voices to inspire action. Through his role as the morning show host for A1 Radio in Bolgatanga, he has interviewed many stakeholders on air quality issues, including John Kingsley Krugu, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. By leveraging media platforms and public dialogue, he advocates for policies and community-led solutions that promote cleaner air and a healthier future.
Hafsatu Issah is based in the Western North region, one of the most secluded areas in Ghana. More than 50% of Ghana’s population relies on firewood and wood charcoal as cooking fuels.
At Chaconut Green Solutions, she and her team have developed a carbonisation kiln to help revolutionise the fuel industry. Their charcoal briquettes and by-products (Maame Sissala) are cheaper, less smoky and burn longer and hotter than wood charcoal.
Evans Quarshie lives in Kwashieman in Accra, Ghana’s capital, and has attended Kasoa Konnect Meetups on the subject of clean air. He has volunteered on the Breathe Accra project to raise awareness of the health effects of air pollution, including educating street vendors on the effects that air pollutants have on their health.
Many young people have started prioritising air quality issues in their conversations as they have found networks and communities of others in Ghana who care about preventing and fighting air pollution. They have initiated ideas, and started social entreprises and businesses to implement solutions that would solve this problem, through initiatives like #CleanAirGhana.
