According to the latest State of Global Air 2025 report, air pollution in Ghana has become a significant public health crisis, leading to over 32,500 deaths in 2023. This marks a troubling increase from previous estimates, such as the World Health Organization’s 2019 figure of 28,000 annual premature deaths due to air pollution .
The report attributes nearly 14% of all deaths in Ghana to air pollution, making it the country’s second leading risk factor for death, following high blood pressure . Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, with approximately 5,900 deaths among individuals under 20 years old .
Household air pollution from burning wood, charcoal, and other solid fuels remains Ghana’s single largest contributor to the crisis, responsible for 71% of pollution-related deaths. Outdoor particulate matter (PM2.5), primarily from vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and waste burning, accounts for 29% .
In response to this growing health threat, Ghana’s government enacted the Environmental Protection (Air Quality Management) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2507), which empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate and enforce emission standards across various sectors, including transport, industry, agriculture, construction, and waste management .
Despite these efforts, experts warn that without swift action to curb emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources, the health and economic toll of air pollution in Ghana will continue to rise.
