On a 7-kilometre health walk through Accra on Saturday, August 15, 2026, participants using portable air quality monitors found high levels of pollution in several areas, including near the Niger Embassy, where open burning was observed.
Air Pollution Hotspots Exposed
The Global Shapers Accra Hub and the UrbanBetter Accra Hub organized the walk as part of the Roots & Routes: Health Walk and Urban Canopy Initiative. The walk started and ended at Independence Square and passed through areas such as the Parliament, Electoral Commission, Police Headquarters, the UK Embassy, UniMAC-IJ, and the Liberation Road towards the National Theatre.
Pollution Levels Fluctuate Along Route
During the two-hour walk, the lowest PM2.5 reading was 8 micrograms per cubic meter, while the average reading was 28 micrograms per cubic meter. The World Health Organization recommends that people should not be exposed to more than an average of 15 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours. The monitors measured PM2.5, tiny particles in the air that are so small they can enter deep into the lungs and, with repeated exposure, affect human health.
Sharp Increase in Pollution Near Liberation Road
On the Liberation Road, pollution levels rose sharply, particularly when heavily polluting vehicles passed close to the group. At some points, the monitor recorded more than 100 micrograms per cubic meter. The highest reading, 107 micrograms per cubic meter, was recorded near the Niger Embassy, where participants observed open burning.
Open Burning Continues to Pollute Air
Open burning of waste is prohibited under Ghana's Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124). The exercise showed that pollution can change quickly depending on where people are and what is happening around them. Some quieter roads recorded lower levels, but the exercise highlighted the need for cleaner and safer ways of moving around Accra.
Community-Led Activities Raise Awareness
The data collected will be used to support conversations about cleaner and safer ways of moving around Accra and creating healthier urban spaces. For the organizers, the exercise was not just about walking. It was also about allowing ordinary people to collect information about the air they breathe and understand how pollution affects different parts of the city.
Call to Action for a Healthier Accra
The air around us is shaping our health every day. If we want to live long, healthy lives, we must take responsibility to call out and clean up what's polluting it. As Godwin Doe, Curator, Global Shaper Accra Hub, noted, "This walk showed us that air pollution can change significantly within just a few kilometres, making clean air a daily issue that affects how we live, work, and move around Accra."
Source: Joy Online
