Spotlighting Dirty Air on Independence Day

On a day typically defined by parades, patriotic speeches and national pride, some young Ghanaians chose a different path in marking Independence Day in Ghana. Instead of celebrating, they took to the streets, demanding urgent action on air pollution — an issue estimated to contribute to more than 32,000 deaths annually in the country.

In this episode, host Michael Asharley explores how Independence Day became a platform for environmental activism, speaking with Betty Adjei of the Green Africa Youth Organization and Lord Offei-Darko of UrbanBetter Accra Cityzens. Together, they unpack the growing public health crisis linked to poor air quality, the challenges of waste management, and why existing laws are failing to deliver real change.

Clean Air Report Ghana is a collaboration between New Narratives and leading Ghanaian newsrooms. Funding is provided by the Clean Air Fund which had no say in the reporting.