Air quality management regulations have been passed into law – EPA

Professor Nana Ama Brown Klutse, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has announced that Parliament has passed into law the Air Quality Management Regulation to promote air quality.

Prof. Klutse, in a speech read on her behalf at the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Tema, stated: “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 added that it would also facilitate enforcement of the standards in promoting air quality, noting, however, that the new Air Quality Regulations, among others, require the development of an Air Quality Information Management System, indicating that her outfit would rely on all actors to provide the needed information and support to make this a reality for Ghana.

The EPA CEO stressed that the EPA could not underscore the importance of air quality data in the quest to fight air pollution, therefore expressing appreciation to individuals and groups who have invested in air quality monitoring across the country.

Calling on all to join the race to accelerate solutions to secure clean air for all, she emphasised that the time to accelerate solutions and collective action to deliver clean air for all was now, adding that “we are racing against time for clean air, racing for solutions, racing for survival for the entire ecosystem.”

The EPA, Prof Klutse stated, recognised clean air as a fundamental right for every citizen and a crucial element in the fight against climate change and has therefore promoted a number of interventions.

The interventions include the implementation of the environmental assessment regulations under which undertakings were required to institute appropriate preventive corrective measures, including the installation of pollution control systems to reduce the impact of their operations on the environment, as well as required to monitor air emissions, among others.

Other interventions include the introduction of the Ghana Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (GOCEMS) to further strengthen the monitoring requirements of undertakings, facilitating prompt action to address emission episodes.

Prof Klutse added that the development of the Air Quality Standards in collaboration with the Ghana Standard Authority and stakeholders was another intervention which defines the maximum permissible levels and test methods for measurements of the parameters for industrial, ambient and vehicular emissions.

She also mentioned the creation of awareness on the dangers of air pollution and the need to ensure clean air for all, and the development of the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Greater Accra Region with other stakeholders aimed at using a coordinated multisectoral approach to promote actions to address major sources of air pollution, including transport, industry, and waste management, among others, to improve air quality, are other interventions.

The EPA, she announced, has established air quality monitoring networks in Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tema, and Tamale to provide data on the state of air quality in these cities.

Prof Klutse said: “This year, the Authority, with support from the Energy Institute of Chicago (EPIC) Air Quality Fund, has established a monitoring network in Tema consisting of seven low-cost sensors, with one reference-grade monitor to be added by the end of the year.

“This will provide real-time data to track pollution levels in Tema to inform decision-making. We wish to appeal to other stakeholders to support this initiative to extend the network in Tema to provide comprehensive data for our main harbour and industrial enclave.”

Source: GNA

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