The Director of Public Health at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Florence Kuukyi, has expressed concern over the high levels of air pollution in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. According to her, an assessment of burial permits received so far indicates that about 80% of deaths are caused by either cardiovascular or upper respiratory diseases due to high levels of pollutants in the air.
The air pollution issue in Accra is attributed to various factors, including the open burning of e-waste at Agbogbloshie, carbon emissions from vehicles and trucks, and the use of solid fuels for domestic and commercial cooking. Madam Kuukyi noted that there has been an increase in cardiovascular diseases, upper respiratory diseases, asthma, and other related illnesses.
A yet-to-air documentary by Christian Yalley, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, on TV3, features Madam Kuukyi discussing the air pollution issue in Accra. She emphasized that the problem is becoming severe, with data indicating that 40% of air pollution is from vehicular emissions and 25% is from waste burning.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 62 million tonnes of electronic waste are discarded annually, with less than a quarter recycled through formal means. A 2024 study by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) found that 77.7% of the world's e-waste is not formally collected or recycled, raising serious public health concerns.
Agbogbloshie, a notorious e-waste hub in Accra, is a significant contributor to air pollution. Electronic gadgets from around the world arrive at the end of their life cycle, and scavengers search for vital parts, forcing the gadgets into a new life cycle that becomes a danger to the environment and society.
The extraction of copper and other useful metals from cables assembled at Agbogbloshie involves openly burning the cables, releasing toxic substances such as lead and mercury into the air. Prolonged inhalation of these substances is taking a toll on residents and persons working in the area, with high levels of pollutants exceeding WHO standards.
The air quality assessment for the documentary titled 'Toxic Smoke, Fragile Lives' found a serious crisis at hand that needs a critical solution. Madam Kuukyi noted that air pollutants are too tiny, especially particulate matter 2.5, and are killing people, emphasizing the need for a solution to the air pollution problem in Accra.
Key points
- 80% of burial permits in GAMA cite cardiovascular or respiratory diseases due to air pollution.
- Air pollution in Accra is attributed to open burning of e-waste, carbon emissions, and use of solid fuels.
- The extraction of copper from e-waste at Agbogbloshie releases toxic substances into the air, posing a health risk to residents.
