EPA on deteriorating air quality in the country.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is advising individuals, particularly those with respiratory conditions, to prioritize staying indoors due to the deteriorating air quality in the country.

Expressing concern about the escalating health risks associated with air pollution in Accra, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is emphasizing the urgent need for swift action to address this critical issue.

As an illustration, on Tuesday, real-time air quality assessment in Accra’s Cantonments neighborhood indicated extremely unhealthy levels (263).

Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, disclosed that stakeholders are collaboratively working on releasing guidelines to address the situation.

He mentioned, “Accra’s air quality is unhealthy. People should try to remain indoors if possible and drink lots of water to hydrate.”

“From the public health point of view, I think that we drafted a guideline, but it is somehow dependent on the measurement of air quality from EPA and Meteorological Agency. Clearly based on the value that is recorded, you are supposed to exhibit certain behaviors.”

“It’s about education, enforcement, and behavior check, so if you are someone with a respiratory condition like asthma, you are more vulnerable. In that case, you need to be careful about how you expose yourself to these pollutants in the environment.”

“Based on their graduations, when you are around orange, then you are supposed to be more indoors than outdoors… hopefully in the next few days, we are going to communicate to Ghanaians that you also anticipate your risk and determine the kind of activities you go into,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe conveyed to Asaase Radio.