The Vice-Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Kofi Amegah, has addressed the need for a deliberate approach to tackling the causes of air pollution to achieve the goal of ensuring that everyone has access to clean air.

Speaking on JoyNews’ National Dialogue on Clean Air and Election 2024 on Tuesday, 26th November, he stated, “In our society, some individuals are more vulnerable than others. Therefore, when it comes to the issue of clean air, we must be intentional and strategic in how we address its underlying causes.” The achievement of this conversation is for the parties in Ghana to hear the citizens and undertake deliberate interventions.

Prof Amegah further explained that "We have looked at all the manifestos from 1992 to this point, of our key sources of air pollution- our transportation, waste, energy for cooking, farming, industrialisation, we have heard all the parties talk about their intervention to tackle the challenges of our time but we have to be deliberate, we have to be conscious that we do not try to solve one challenge by creating another."

There is very little demand for clean air in the country. There is a will politically that talks about air quality which shows that we have the aspiration to breathe clean air.

Regarding the industrialisation agenda, the government must demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that the drive for industrial growth does not lead to increased pollution, as has been observed in other parts of the world.

“Are we being conscious to be able to address the peripheral issues that come with all the prepositions that we are making, and if we are concerned about the pollution what is our resource allocation towards tackling this particular challenges that we are facing?” he asked.

He emphasized the need for deliberate, focused, and intentional policies and actions that not only address the challenges of our time but also improve air quality and help us live better lives.