Clean Air Report Ghana

New Narratives and Joy FM
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In a world where the very air we breathe is threatened, we embark on a journey to uncover the hidden truths about air pollution. Welcome to Clean Air Report Ghana, a program where we discuss Ghana’s growing air quality crisis and how it affects every aspect of our lives and our planet.  The program is a collaboration between Joy News, New Narratives and leading Ghanaian newsmedia. The host is Michael Asharley. 

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Journalists Embark on Groundbreaking Project to Illuminate the Very Real Dangers to Ghanaians of Air Pollution

    Welcome to the first episode of this second season of the program, hosted by Joy News.  This first show introduces listeners to a new cohort of clean air reporting fellows embarking on a groundbreaking journey to inform audiences of the dangers of air pollution. We will also meet some of the experts working to bring changes that can save lives and improve our health. And we'll learn what we can do to protect ourselves.  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.

    14 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The Numbers Don’t Lie: How Air Pollution Is Reducing Ghana’s Life Expectancy

    What’s taking more years off our lives than smoking, unsafe water, or even HIV/AIDS? The answer might surprise you. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana, host Michael Asharley speaks with Tanushree Ganguly, Director of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) at the University of Chicago, to unpack the latest AQLI 2025 findings. The data reveals that air pollution is now the single greatest external threat to human life expectancy — and West Africa is among the hardest-hit regions. From the hidden dangers in Ghana’s air to the new parliamentary regulation on air quality management, this conversation explores the numbers behind the crisis and what they mean for our health, our policies, and our future. Listen as Tanushree breaks down the data gaps, the regional disparities, and the urgent steps Ghana must take to enforce its new standards — because, as Michael reminds us, every breath counts. 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.

    14 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    The Blame in the Air: Why Accountability Matters for Clean Air

    Who’s responsible for cleaning Ghana’s air — the Ministry of Transport, the Energy Commission, the EPA, or your local assembly? Trick question. It’s all of them — and that’s exactly the problem. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana, host Michael Asharley explores why Ghana’s air pollution crisis remains unresolved despite decades of monitoring and dozens of overlapping mandates. With more than 30,000 air pollution-related deaths every year, experts say the country’s fragmented approach is costing lives. Michael speaks with Desmond Appiah, Ghana Lead at the Clean Air Fund, who argues that Ghana urgently needs a single, consolidated national clean air policy to bring clarity and accountability. Selina Amoah, Director of the Air Quality Unit at the EPA, reflects on Parliament’s new Air Quality Management Regulation and what it could mean in practice. And Jacob Attakpah of Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) makes the case for youth action and zero waste solutions at the community level. From government offices to grassroots campaigns, this episode unpacks the one question that could define Ghana’s clean air future: who is really in charge of the air we breathe? 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.

    10 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    When the Air Turns Toxic: How Pollution Fuels Breast Cancer and Hypertension

    This week on Clean Air Report Ghana, host Michael Asharley connects the dots between the air we breathe and the diseases we fear most. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month — but beyond lifestyle and genetics, could Ghana’s polluted air be a silent trigger? In this episode, Jennifer Ambolley of The Chronicle Newspaper shares the stories of market women battling breast cancer while working in smoke-filled stalls and roadside chaos. Then, Kayleb Ahinakwah takes us to the streets, where hawkers breathing in exhaust fumes all day are showing alarming rates of hypertension. From busy markets to congested highways, the episode reveals how air pollution is not just an environmental problem — it’s a growing public health crisis linked to some of Ghana’s most pressing diseases. 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.

    15 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Mercury as a Dangerous Air Pollutant: The Hidden Cost of Gold Extraction in Ghana

    In Ghana’s gold towns, the danger isn’t always underground — it’s in the air. Michael Asharley investigates a new report by the FCDO, Pure Earth, and the EPA, revealing alarming levels of mercury in the air across artisanal and small-scale mining communities. When mercury is burned to extract gold, it releases invisible, toxic vapour that threatens not just miners, but entire families and nearby towns. Michael speaks with Rev. Dr. Esmond Wisdom Quansah of Pure Earth, Dr. Dezel Tay of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and Dr. John Arko-Mensah of the University of Ghana School of Public Health about how mercury exposure harms the brain, kidneys, and lungs — and what must change to protect both livelihoods and lives. From Prestea to Konongo, this episode exposes the hidden health cost of Ghana’s gold rush — and why cleaner, mercury-free methods are the only way forward. 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.

    13 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Pennies for Clean Air, Billions for Fossil Fuels

    Air pollution kills an estimated 28,000 Ghanaians every year — and costs the country up to $2.8 billion in lost productivity. Yet, as the crisis deepens, global funding for clean air is falling. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana on Joy 99.7 FM, host Michael Asharley asks a critical question: why is the world investing less in saving the air we breathe? He breaks down the latest State of Global Air Quality Funding Report, which reveals that support for outdoor air quality dropped by 20%, while projects prolonging fossil fuels more than doubled to $9.5 billion. Michael speaks with Desmond Appiah, Ghana Lead for the Clean Air Fund, about what this funding decline means for Ghana’s progress, the structural barriers that stall interventions, and the innovative financing models that could keep clean air efforts alive even when donor priorities shift. From dwindling global aid to the search for local solutions, this episode explores how Ghana — and Africa — can keep breathing hope into the fight for clean air. 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.

    15 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Funding the Fight for Clean Air

    Michael Asharley explores a stunning global paradox: while air pollution kills nearly 8 million people a year, funding for cleaner air is rapidly disappearing. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, support for outdoor air quality in sub-Saharan Africa dropped by a staggering 91%. Michael speaks with Jacob Johnson Attakpah from the Green Africa Youth Organization about how these funding cuts are hitting grassroots environmental projects in Ghana. From waste recovery centres to youth-led air monitoring, the work continues — but the money is running out. 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.

    12 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Shining a Light on Ghana’s Pollution Problem and Solutions: Albert Oppong Ansah

    Award-winning journalist Albert Oppong Ansah joins host Michael Asharley to share how powerful storytelling can help Ghana breathe cleaner air. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana, Albert — a reporter with the Ghana News Agency and a New Narratives Clean Air Fellow — reflects on his recent win as Best in News Reporting (Online) at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association Awards. It was the second big win for him in a week. A few days before the GJA award, he also picked up the Eric and Wendy Schmidt award for excellence in science communication from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine in the United States. His investigative stories on air pollution didn’t just inform; they provoked national discussion and inspired action. Albert talks about what motivates his reporting, the challenges of covering environmental issues, and how the Clean Air Fellowship has shaped his journalism. He also shares what he’s learned from years of covering the human and policy sides of Ghana’s pollution crisis — and why awareness remains the first step toward cleaner, healthier air. As the country continues to confront one of its most silent public health threats, this conversation explores how committed journalists can bridge the gap between science, policy, and the people most affected. 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.

    14 min

  9. EPISODE 9

    The Air That’s Killing Us: Ghana in the Global Pollution Crisis

    Air pollution is now the world’s second leading cause of early death — right behind high blood pressure. In 2023 alone, it claimed 7.9 million lives globally, including more than 32,000 in Ghana, where the average person is losing nearly nine months of life expectancy to dirty air. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana on Joy 99.7 FM, host Michael Asharley speaks with Dr. Pallavi Pant, Head of Global Initiatives at the Health Effects Institute, about the findings of the State of Global Air 2025 Report — a sobering look at how polluted air is quietly fueling heart disease, respiratory illness, and, for the first time, dementia. The conversation unpacks why Africa’s air-pollution burden keeps rising even as global awareness grows, how Ghana’s new Air Quality Management Regulations could help, and what lessons the continent can learn from countries that have successfully cleaned their air. 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.

    21 min

  10. EPISODE 10

    From Guesswork to Evidence: Accra’s Air Quality Finally Measured

    Accra is getting something it has never had before: a clear, real-time picture of the air its residents breathe. In just two years, the Breathe Accra programme — part of the global Breathe Cities Initiative backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, C40, and the Clean Air Fund — has deployed more than 100 air-quality sensors across the city, creating the most detailed pollution map in Ghana’s history. Michael Asharley sits down with Dr. Elvis Gyeabuor, Portfolio Manager for Breathe Accra, to explore how this initiative is transforming Accra’s approach to clean air. They discuss why Accra was chosen, the partnerships driving the work, key milestones from the past two years, and how data is reshaping decisions in health, transport, and urban planning. From schools and communities using clean-air insights for the first time, to city authorities integrating pollution data into policy, this episode reveals how Breathe Accra is building the foundations for a healthier city — and what it will take to sustain the progress once the programme ends. 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.

    19 min

  11. EPISODE 11

    Pollution, Mapped: What the Numbers Reveal About Accra’s Air

    Across 13 municipal assemblies in Accra, detailed air quality monitoring has exposed hidden pollution hotspots, linking everyday activities to serious health risks. Host, Michael Asharley, speaks with Dr. Joseph Ayitio, Managing Director of PSS Urbania, about how measuring pollutants like PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and sulphur dioxide is changing planning, enforcement, and public awareness.  As data makes the invisible visible, the episode asks a crucial question: now that we know where the problem is, will action follow? 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.

    24 min

  12. EPISODE 12

    The African Air Quality School: Building Clean Air Champions Across Africa

    Clean air advocacy in Africa is taking shape in lecture halls, laboratories, and everyday conversations far beyond policy spaces. In this episode of Clean Air Report Ghana, Michael Asharley takes listeners to Kumasi for an inside look at the African School on Air Quality and Pollution Prevention hosted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The episode features voices from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Ghana, as participants share how the intensive training has deepened their understanding of air pollution, public health, and environmental responsibility. From monitoring and data analysis to communication, community engagement, and policy influence, the school is equipping a new generation with practical tools grounded in African realities. As researchers, communicators, industry practitioners, and youth advocates reflect on what they are taking back to their home countries, the episode captures a growing continental network committed to cleaner air. It is a story of shared learning, cross-border collaboration, and the emergence of clean air champions determined to turn knowledge into action. 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.

    14 min
See All Season 2 (12)

About

In a world where the very air we breathe is threatened, we embark on a journey to uncover the hidden truths about air pollution. Welcome to Clean Air Report Ghana, a program where we discuss Ghana’s growing air quality crisis and how it affects every aspect of our lives and our planet.  The program is a collaboration between Joy News, New Narratives and leading Ghanaian newsmedia. The host is Michael Asharley. 

Information

  • Creator
    New Narratives and Joy FM
  • Episodes
    20
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Clean Air Report Ghana
  • Show Website
    Clean Air Report Ghana