New Narratives

2026-05-082026-08-29

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

August 2026
25 AugJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund, which had no say in the story’s content.
Oranges, sardines and eggs could help protect people exposed to air pollution, Ghana study finds
21 AugJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives, with funding from the Clean Air Fund. …
Air pollution from pesticides linked to farmers respiratory illness
17 AugJoy Online
… This story is a collaboration New Narratives. Funding was provided by Clean Air Fund which had no say in the story’s content.
Fighting fires, fighting for breath: The hidden health toll on Ghana’s firefighters – and the support that still falls short
13 AugThe Ghanaian Times
… This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Clean Air Reporting BY KINGSLEY E. …
The commute that pollutes: How Ghana’s poor urban cities are sickening millions
8 AugJoy Online
… This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Clean Air Reporting project. …
Delayed construction projects pollute air, put lives at risk
7 AugJoy Online
… This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Clean Air Reporting project. …
Delayed construction projects creating air pollution and health risks for people across the country
July 2026
31 JulJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund which had no say in the story’s content. …
Women in Air Quality Initiative pushes for gender-responsive clean air policies across Africa
31 JulJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund which had no say in the story’s content. …
Africa Clean Air Network unites more than 80 institutions to strengthen air quality action across the continent
18 JulJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund, which had no say in the story’s content.
Seven EPIC Air Quality Fund awardees recognized for their milestones and impact
18 JulJoy Online
… This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund, which had no say in the story’s content.
Ghana EPA honoured at Africa Clean Air Forum for progress in tackling air pollution

Society

Study finds dietary foods may reduce air pollution health impacts

The News

A University of Cape Coast study (DIMAP) tracked 307 street vendors in Accra for 12 months, providing one group with weekly supplies of oranges, peanuts, sunflower oil, eggs and sardines. The research, led by Professor Kofi Amegah, examined whether diet could help protect workers exposed to pollutants along busy roads including Atomic Junction, Madina, Lapaz, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

25 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 25 August

Study finds dietary foods may reduce air pollution health impacts
A University of Cape Coast study (DIMAP) tracked 307 street vendors in Accra for 12 months, providing one group with weekly supplies of oranges, peanuts, sunflower oil, eggs and sardines. The research, led by Professor Kofi Amegah, examined whether diet could help protect workers exposed to pollutants along busy roads including Atomic Junction, Madina, Lapaz, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 21 August

Pesticide exposure linked to respiratory illness in Ghanaian farmers
A University of Ghana public health lecturer warns that farmers' exposure to pesticide drift contributes to respiratory illnesses and air pollution in Ghana, noting that most farmers do not use protective gear when spraying chemicals. Health experts link chemical exposure to respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other long-term diseases, with air pollution causing an estimated 28,000 deaths yearly in Ghana.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 17 August

Ghana's firefighters face hidden health risks with inadequate support
Firefighters in Ghana, including 15-year veteran Station Officer Abubakar Mohammed, worry about developing lung disease from smoke exposure without adequate equipment like breathing apparatus, yet occupational health concerns are rarely studied or discussed in the country.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 13 August

Air pollution from urban congestion kills thousands annually in Ghana
Air pollution is estimated to contribute to 35,000 premature deaths in Ghana every year, with urban planners and public-health experts attributing a major driver to poor city design that concentrates essential services in one location, forcing lengthy commutes and gridlock.
13 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Saturday 8 August

Delayed Ghana road projects expose residents to air pollution
Construction delays on government-funded infrastructure projects, including the Adentan–Dodowa dual carriageway, are leaving communities exposed to dust and harmful pollutants linked to diseases such as asthma, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Experts attribute delays to missed government payments to contractors, poor oversight and corruption.
8 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 7 August

Delayed government construction projects exposing Ghanaians to air pollution health risks
Stalled roadworks under Ghana's "Big Push" infrastructure program, delayed by missed government payments to contractors, are leaving communities covered in dust and harmful pollutants and exposing millions to increased risk of diseases linked to air pollution including asthma, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
7 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 31 July

Women in Air Quality Initiative pushes for gender-responsive clean air policies
Women across Africa are calling for air quality policies that better address their specific exposure risks, arguing that gender differences in pollution exposure have been overlooked. Experts say women often face disproportionate air pollution due to caregiving roles, cooking with polluting fuels, and occupations that expose them to harmful emissions, yet these realities are rarely reflected in clean air policy design.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Africa Clean Air Network unites 80+ institutions for air quality
The Africa Clean Air Network has brought together more than 80 institutions from across Africa and beyond to coordinate work on air pollution, strengthening research and accelerating policy action across the continent, according to network leaders at the Africa Clean Air Forum in Pretoria.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 18 July

EPIC Air Quality Fund recognizes seven awardees for clean air impact
The EPIC Air Quality Fund celebrated seven projects from The Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Pakistan, Malawi, Nigeria, and Liberia at the Africa Clean Air Forum for achieving national-level clean air impacts. The 31 funded projects, selected from 322 applications across 74 countries, are expanding air quality monitoring infrastructure and driving policy change through open data.
18 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana EPA honoured for air pollution monitoring progress
Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority has been recognised at the Africa Clean Air Forum as one of seven organisations worldwide for significant progress in tackling air pollution, following the rollout of an air quality monitoring network in Tema. The recognition comes as Ghana begins implementing new air quality management regulations requiring industries to control emissions and vehicles to undergo emission testing.
18 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 14 July

E-waste burning at Agbogbloshie contaminates Ghana's food chain
Scientists say pollution from informal e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie is contaminating both human breast milk and livestock milk in surrounding communities, with research from the University of Ghana and UNICEF findings showing that heavy metals and hazardous pollutants released during open burning accumulate in the environment and enter the food chain consumed by mothers, infants and residents.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 30 June

Ghana's air pollution exceeds national standards in most locations
Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority reports that particulate matter concentrations exceed the national air quality standard of 35 micrograms per cubic metre in most monitoring locations, and virtually the entire population in urban and rural areas is exposed to levels exceeding the World Health Organisation's guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
30 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 30 May

Scientists warn radon gas may increase lung cancer risks
Researchers at Ghana's Atomic Energy Commission warn that radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into homes, poses a hidden health risk and can increase lung cancer risk even among non-smokers. Ghana has produced a preliminary radon map identifying areas with higher concentrations, including Weija and Kasoa.
30 May 2026 · Joy Online →
EPA and Columbia University map Ghana air pollution nationwide
Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority has partnered with Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to map PM2.5 pollution levels across the entire country from 2005 onward, addressing a long-standing data gap. Air pollution kills approximately 32,000 Ghanaians annually and costs the country an estimated 2.5 billion US dollars annually, about 4.5 per cent of GDP.
30 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Municipal assemblies receive air quality monitoring equipment
Breathe Accra is expanding its air quality monitoring network across Accra with funding from Breathe Cities, providing thirteen municipal assemblies with additional monitoring equipment in phase two. The expansion addresses a long-standing lack of real-time pollution data needed by authorities to enforce air quality regulations and respond to sources like open burning and vehicle emissions.
30 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 29 May

Ghana farmers' burning practices worsen air pollution and environmental damage
Experts warn that widespread crop-waste and slash-and-burn farming practices across Ghana are fueling public health and environmental crises. A study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research found that burning one kilogramme of crop residue produces smoke levels over 100 times higher than WHO safety thresholds, causing illness, deaths, and climate damage.
29 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 25 May

Electric bikes gain traction in Ghana's northern Bawku town
Electric bikes are becoming more common in Bawku, a northeastern Ghana town, partly due to security restrictions on petrol-powered motorbikes following years of tribal conflict. Users report cleaner air and quieter commutes, with entrepreneurs like Hakeem Girma importing e-bikes to meet growing demand.
25 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 20 May

Afri-SET holds third regional workshop on air quality sensors
The Air Quality Sensor Evaluation and Training Facility for West Africa at the University of Ghana held a four-day workshop from May 18 to May 21, 2026, bringing together researchers, students, policymakers and media practitioners to address the challenge of measuring air pollution across West Africa, where many institutions lack expertise to deploy sensors and interpret air quality data.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 18 May

Six KNUST air quality ambassadors promote clean air across Ghana, West Africa
Six young Ghanaians selected as Air Quality Ambassadors at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are championing action on air pollution, which the State of Global Air report estimates kills approximately 32,000 Ghanaians annually. The issue remains largely invisible in public discourse despite air pollution being one of Ghana's leading environmental health threats and costing the country billions in productivity and healthcare.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

Asaloko village exchanges plastic sachets for drinking water
Residents of Asaloko, a community of about 1,200 people, collect empty water sachets and exchange them with a nearby sachet-water company for fresh drinking water supplies. The program removes as much as 5 tonnes of sachets from the community annually, addressing Ghana's broader plastic waste challenge, where roughly 840,000 tonnes are generated yearly with less than 10 per cent recycled.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →