Ghana’s air is getting deadlier. The latest 2024 World Air Quality Report confirms that the country’s pollution levels have worsened for the third consecutive year, pushing it into the ranks of the world’s most polluted nations. With toxic air now seven times above WHO’s safe limit, millions of Ghanaians are breathing in danger every day.

Ghana is now the 14th most polluted country globally, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 35.8 µg/m³—seven times above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit.

Ghana’s Pollution Crisis Worsens

Air pollution levels in Ghana have surged dramatically in recent years:

• 2022: Ranked 27th globally with a PM2.5 level of 30.2 µg/m³.
• 2023: Moved up to 17th place with 33.2 µg/m³.
• 2024: Now 14th most polluted, reaching a record 35.8 µg/m³.

Exclusively relying on data from IQAir, between 2022 and 2024, Ghana’s PM2.5 pollution levels have increased by 18.5%.

Accra remains one of the most polluted capitals in the world, ranking 16th with a PM2.5 level of 36.3 µg/m³. Kumasi, which is featured for the first time in the report, surpassed Accra as Ghana’s most polluted city, registering 39.5 µg/m³.

A Silent Killer: The Human Cost of Pollution

The worsening air quality is a public health emergency. WHO estimates suggest that 28,000 Ghanaians die each year due to air pollution-related illnesses, equating to one death every 19 minutes. If this trend continues, toxic air exposure could claim at least 2,333 lives per month.

The economic impact is equally severe. A Clean Air Fund report warns that without urgent intervention, pollution in Ghana’s urban centers could cost the economy $137.8 billion by 2040 due to healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Africa’s Air Pollution Crisis

Ghana is part of a growing air pollution crisis across Africa. The report highlights that:

• Five of the world’s top 10 most polluted countries are in Africa (Chad, D.R. Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria).
• Only 24 of Africa’s 54 countries have air quality monitoring data.
• 34% of African cities reported PM2.5 levels 3-5 times above WHO limits.
• The continent lacks government-led air monitoring, with NGOs providing 67% of air quality data.

The Global Toll of Air Pollution

Air pollution, particularly from PM2.5 particles, remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health, surpassing smoking, alcohol use, traffic injuries, and HIV/AIDS. The University of Chicago’s AQLI data shows that people in highly polluted areas live 2.7 years less than those in cleaner environments. In 2021, air pollution caused 8.1 million deaths globally or roughly 22,192 deaths daily. Alarmingly, one child dies every minute due to air pollution.

What’s Fueling Ghana’s Air Pollution?

The report identifies rapid urbanization, unregulated industrial emissions, open burning of waste, and outdated vehicle emissions standards as major drivers of pollution. In Ghana, reliance on wood and charcoal for cooking, along with unchecked sand-winning activities, has also contributed to worsening air quality.