Traders operating at the Tema Lorry Station in the Korle Klottey Municipality have raised concerns over prolonged exposure to vehicle smoke, as health and environmental authorities warn that rising air pollution could be contributing to respiratory illnesses in the area.

The traders say they spend several hours each day inhaling fumes from vehicles whose engines remain running while parked or waiting to load passengers.

One of the affected traders, 31-year-old shoemaker Joseph Kwaku Opoku, who has worked at the station for the past three years, said he is increasingly concerned about the impact of vehicle emissions on his health.

Mr Opoku, who said he works to support his parents, told Adom News that he is exposed to vehicle fumes from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

He said he frequently experiences chest heaviness, colds and headaches and has also recorded high blood pressure.

According to him, traders have repeatedly appealed to drivers to switch off their engines when their vehicles are not moving, but the pleas are often ignored.

Mr Opoku said he has had to purchase medication from pharmacies on about three occasions to manage his health problems.

Another trader, Ajaw Boakyewaa, a mother of two who has sold wigs and women's hair products at the station for the past two years, also complained about the effects of vehicle emissions.

She said exposure to smoke causes her to experience colds, high blood pressure, eye irritation and eye pain.

Ms Boakyewaa said traders frequently ask drivers to switch off their engines when their vehicles are stationary, but some drivers reportedly argue that the location is a lorry station and they are entitled to keep their engines running.

The concerns come amid warnings from health authorities that respiratory illnesses are increasing in Accra.

The Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Robert Amissiya, said health authorities are implementing measures to address the situation while urging the public to avoid activities that worsen air pollution, particularly open burning.

He also advised people who are regularly exposed to smoke and polluted air to use nose masks as a protective measure.

The Municipal Health Promotion Officer for Korle Klottey, Daniel Kwame Amaning, said the municipality recorded an increase in respiratory illnesses about three years ago.

He attributed the reduction in cases recorded this year partly to public education campaigns on the dangers of open burning.

The Environmental Health Director for Korle Klottey also confirmed that pollution sensors installed around the Circle area and some lorry stations within the municipality have recorded high levels of pollution.

He said the Environmental Health Department has consequently intensified education programmes at lorry stations, engaging drivers, traders and residents on the health risks associated with vehicle emissions and open burning.

According to him, the education is gradually helping people understand the dangers of air pollution and adopt healthier practices.

Meanwhile, Kwadwo R. Ansong Asante, Deputy Director and Acting Director at the CSIR-Water Research Institute, has warned that prolonged exposure to vehicle emissions could have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of cancer.

He called for stronger measures to prevent highly polluting vehicles from operating and urged the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen vehicle emissions testing.

Mr Asante said effective testing would help identify vehicles producing excessive smoke and ensure that appropriate action is taken.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius NiiQuaye Kotey, said the authority is currently reviewing its plans for emissions testing and will follow the appropriate procurement process before implementation.

The concerns raised by traders at the Tema Lorry Station have renewed calls for stronger enforcement of vehicle emission regulations across Korle Klottey, particularly at busy transport terminals where drivers, traders and commuters spend long periods exposed to vehicle fumes.

Health and environmental authorities say sustained public education, effective emissions testing and strict enforcement of existing regulations are essential to reducing air pollution and protecting workers and residents from pollution-related illnesses.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives, with funding from the Clean Air Fund. The donor had no say in the story’s content.