US Ambassador Sullivan and EPA commission Air Quality Monitoring stations
An air quality monitoring station at the US Embassy grounds has been commissioned by the US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan and the Ghana Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
The commissioning of the air quality monitoring station at the US Embassy is the third of three air monitoring stations in the capital.
EPA, with the support of the World Bank Pollution Management and Environmental Health project, had previously installed two other state-of-the-art air quality monitoring systems – one at the University of Ghana in Legon and another at the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Basic School in Adabraka.
The commissioning done on Thursday, October 14, 2021, by Ambassador Sullivan served to commission all three monitoring stations in the country.
“These monitoring stations help scientists, researchers, government officials, and the public understand the data in real-time, as we work together to identify and mitigate sources of harmful air pollution. Air pollution, just like the climate crisis, threatens our health and our prosperity. We are happy to work today with our partners to share information that can lead to solutions,” said U.S. Ambassador Stephanie S. Sullivan.
The collaboration among the U.S. Embassy in Accra, EPA Ghana, the University of Ghana, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank Group, and other partners to establish three air quality monitoring stations in Accra will provide state-of-the-art, timely data on air pollution in the Accra Metropolitan Area.
All three monitors measure PM2.5 black carbon (a component of PM2.5) as well as weather data, such as temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction. The particulate matter monitors, black carbon analyzers, and weather stations will provide high-quality data on a continuous basis.
The data from all three monitoring stations will enable government agencies to inform the public about the current level of air quality and steps the public can take to reduce exposure to pollution.
This data can also help the Ghana EPA and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly formulate strategies, policies, and decisions to reduce air pollution and improve public health. In addition, the data from the station will be available to scientists, academics, and students for educational and research purposes.
The establishment of high quality, continuous ambient air quality stations is an important next step in managing air quality and maintaining a sustainable environment for human society and nature, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These high-quality instruments complement a number of low-cost air quality sensors, which are located in residential, industrial, commercial, and roadside areas. The combined network of high-quality and low-cost devices dramatically improves our understanding of air quality in Accra.
