Parliament has approved the long-awaited Air Quality Management Regulation, a landmark law designed to improve air quality and strengthen enforcement standards nationwide, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Brown Klutse.
Speaking in Tema at the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, Prof. Klutse—through a speech delivered on her behalf—described the passage of the law as a major step toward protecting public health and combating climate change.
“It is my joy to announce that the long-awaited air quality management regulation has been passed into law by Parliament and will soon be available for implementation,” she said.
The new law will require the establishment of an Air Quality Information Management System, which will rely on accurate and timely data from stakeholders. Prof. Klutse stressed the importance of collective responsibility, urging industries, regulators, and communities to support its implementation.
Highlighting the urgency, she noted: “We are racing against time for clean air, racing for solutions, racing for survival for the entire ecosystem.”
As part of EPA’s ongoing interventions, Prof. Klutse outlined key initiatives, including:
- Enforcement of environmental assessment regulations requiring industries to adopt preventive measures, install pollution control systems, and monitor emissions.
- The Ghana Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (GOCEMS), which enhances real-time monitoring and enforcement.
- Collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority to develop comprehensive standards covering industrial, vehicular, and ambient emissions.
- Nationwide public awareness campaigns on the health dangers of air pollution.
- Implementation of the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Greater Accra Region, targeting transport, industry, and waste management as key pollution sources.
She added that the EPA has established monitoring networks in Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tema, and Tamale. In Tema, with support from the Energy Institute of Chicago (EPIC) Air Quality Fund, seven low-cost sensors have been installed, with a reference-grade monitor expected before year’s end to provide real-time data for decision-making in the harbour and industrial enclave.
Prof. Klutse called for broader stakeholder support to expand the network, ensuring more comprehensive coverage.
Through these combined measures, she affirmed, Ghana is making decisive progress toward cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more sustainable environment.
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