According to air quality rankings, Accra is the worst big city in the world.
Ghana’s capital city is listed in the “Very Unhealthy” category, along with Lahore, Pakistan.
Accra’s air quality is around 90 points shy of the worst category on the scale, “Hazardous,” with a US AQI of 212.
The capital city has been experiencing cloudy weather for the last few days.
Many people have attributed it to the Harmattan season’s ferocity.
Yet, pollution is turning out to be the weather.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) says the “dryness and decreased visibility”, which constitute dust lifted from Chad, Sudan and Niger, “may take some time to clear”.
“These conditions are expected to persist at varying intensities over the next few days.
“However, it is expected that there will be a relaxation in the intensity during the week and consequently,” a statement signed by the Acting Director-General of GMeT, Eric Asuman, said.
Hence, it has been recommended to the general population to stay hydrated, adhere to fire safety precautions, cover meals and water to prevent dust from settling on them, wash fruits completely before eating them, and wear nose masks to limit the impact on persons who are allergic to dust.