Vehicle pollution emerges as major health risk in Ghana

Vehicle pollution has been identified as a leading risk factor for deaths in Ghana, affecting both children and the working population.

Air pollution is now the country’s second-leading risk factor for death after high blood pressure, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the State of Global Air report.

These sources confirm that air pollution has become a major public health threat in Ghana.

Alarming statistics indicate that air pollution is one of the leading causes of death in the country, with vehicle emissions contributing significantly to the deterioration of air quality, particularly in urban centres.

According to estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) contributes to approximately 2,800 deaths annually within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area alone. Vehicles operating on heavily congested roads have been identified as the primary source of PM2.5 emissions in the capital.

Nationally, air pollution is estimated to cause between 28,000 and 32,000 deaths each year, representing about 14 percent of all deaths in Ghana.

Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to vehicle-related air pollution contributes significantly to major non-communicable diseases and respiratory illnesses.

Studies show that air pollution is linked to 39 percent of stroke-related deaths and contributes to chronic heart disease deaths, 33 percent of lung cancer deaths, 66 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths, 33 percent of lower respiratory infection deaths, and 33 percent of neonatal deaths.

The impact on children is also severe. Reports indicate that approximately 5,900 children under the age of 20 died from air pollution-related causes in 2023.

Authorities attribute much of the problem to Ghana’s ageing vehicle fleet. The transport sector had an estimated 3.2 million vehicles as of 2022, with more than 95 percent classified as old and highly polluting.

Diesel emissions, common among many imported vehicles, have been classified as carcinogenic and are known to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Ghana is a signatory to broader climate and environmental commitments. Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the country has intensified efforts to integrate climate action into national development planning.

The National Climate Change Policy, adopted in 2013, seeks to build a climate-resilient and climate-compatible economy while promoting sustainable development through low-carbon growth strategies. However, measures to implement low-carbon vehicle policies are yet to be fully rolled out across the country.

At present, there is no clear national policy outlining how vehicle pollution will be managed, although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) have set standards on permissible emissions from vehicles.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the EPA are yet to publish comprehensive data on how vehicle emissions will be managed nationwide.

There has also been limited public communication on how this major risk factor is being addressed, despite its significant impact on both the working population and children.