AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK (AQAW) 2024 CELEBRATIONS
Our health is our wealth. On this premise, the Ghana Urban Air Quality Project (GHAir) joined the world to observe Air Quality Awareness Week in Accra. As part of our mandate to promote practices that ensure cleaner air for all, GhAir planned a number of activities to create awareness of the celebration.
ACTIVITIES
Considering it was Accra’s maiden celebration of the Week, a launch saw stakeholders from our beneficiary districts, various government agencies, and partners gracing the occasion. The launch which happened on 6th May, 2024 was to raise awareness on the impact of air pollution in our communities. We organised a school engagement with pupils from the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools on air pollution and asthma. The pupils were enthused and receptive to learn about air pollution, asthma and its related issues.
As part of the activities, a webinar on air pollution and climate change led by Dr. Francis Nkrumah from the Department of Physics, University of Cape Coast, saw partners from Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa contributing their quota to the discussion. A roundtable discussion was also held with various agencies like the EPA, NPA, GPRTU, Factories Inspectorate, and selected beneficiary districts to come up with recommendations for mitigating air pollution in various hotspots in Accra and by extension, Ghana.
To crown the activities for the week, the team and volunteers engaged in a risk communication activity in various parts of Accra, like Agbogbloshie, Makola, Tudu, and Lapaz. We engaged people, especially the vulnerable population such as market men and women, street vendors, and transport operators on air pollution mitigation strategies for a healthier life.
CONCLUSION
Our partners, Clean Air Fund, AirQo and Makerere University, and the US Embassy, were instrumental in making the week a success. Our project lead, Prof. Kofi Amegah, ensured that everything was in place and that every team member played his or her part well.
