Accra: Professor Nana Ama Brown Klutse, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has announced that Parliament has enacted the Air Quality Management Regulation into law to enhance air quality. Prof. Klutse shared this development during a speech at the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Tema, expressing her joy over the long-awaited regulation that will soon be implemented.
According to Ghana News Agency, the new regulation will enforce standards to promote air quality and require the development of an Air Quality Information Management System. Prof. Klutse emphasized that collaboration with various stakeholders would be crucial for the success of these initiatives in Ghana. She highlighted the importance of air quality data in combating air pollution and acknowledged the contributions of individuals and groups invested in air quality monitoring.
Prof. Klutse urged collective action to secure clean air, noting the urgency of the situation with the phrase, "we are racing against time for clean air, racing for solutions, racing for survival for the entire ecosystem." The EPA acknowledges clean air as a fundamental right and a critical factor in the fight against climate change, promoting several interventions to this end.
Among these interventions are the environmental assessment regulations, which require undertakings to implement pollution control systems and monitor air emissions. The introduction of the Ghana Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (GOCEMS) is aimed at strengthening monitoring requirements and ensuring prompt action to manage emissions.
Additionally, the EPA developed Air Quality Standards with the Ghana Standard Authority and other stakeholders to define permissible emission levels and testing methods. The agency has also raised awareness about air pollution's dangers and developed an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Greater Accra Region to address major pollution sources through a coordinated approach.
To provide comprehensive air quality data, the EPA has established monitoring networks in Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tema, and Tamale. This year, with support from the Energy Institute of Chicago (EPIC) Air Quality Fund, a network with seven low-cost sensors was set up in Tema, with plans to add a reference-grade monitor. Prof. Klutse called for further stakeholder support to extend the network and enhance decision-making capabilities regarding pollution levels.
