Air pollution to kill more Ghanaians following reduction in import duties

The reduction in import duties has brought a sense of relief to merchants in Ghana in recent weeks as entrepreneurs are now considering avenues to maximize profit at the expense of environmental quality and sustainability. Since the year 2008, regulatory agencies have failed to adopt rigorous modus operandi to curb the influx of over aged vehicles, home appliances, used clothing and near-expiry food products.

In spite of of the insipid economic growth in Ghana, measures to gain political points should not be at the peril of the Ghanaian voter.Politicization of science has claimed many lives at the blind side of media and this new development at the ports is no different.

The importation of fast moving consumer goods like packaged foods, beverages and over-the-counter drugs may hinder growth in local businesses with little environmental impacts.

However, importation of secondhand vehicles shall increase toxicity in the atmosphere and crash the dreams of other beneficiaries of the minimal port tariffs. While the European Union is working with scientific projections to cut air pollution in city centers, a great move by the Ghana government to support trade and industry will aggravate existing threats of air pollution.

Second hand vehicles and appliances have lasting effects on our health and environment

A country with fewer urban road networks risk unprecedented levels of air pollution in crowded cities like Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi should be focusing on reducing exposure to disease causing chemicals like particulate matter from vehicle emissions. In April 2018, the Rwandan government reaffirmed the ban on used clothing and shoes in order to promote local manufacturing capacity in garment and other industries. Although the actions stimulated sanctions by affected parties, it goes a long way to protect the welfare of Rwandans. The UK's highest court, the Supreme Court, ordered ministers to take immediate actions to cut air pollution in 2015 following a case brought by CleanEarth on the alarming concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - a gas produced by diesel vehicles which can decrease lung function.

Fast forward to April 4 2019, Clean Air Zones have been demarcated to reduce air pollution by inflicting charges between £12.5 (GHS85) and £100 (GHS680) on motorcycles, private cars, vans and buses. These charges will deter commuters from increasing vehicular congestion in busy city centers and protect children, nursing mothers and pedestrians from contracting respiratory infections like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The discrete waste transfer policy started with clearing of used television sets, refrigerators and used clothing to drive sustainability in Europe and Northern America. It's now easier to send banned cars from Europe to Ghana thereby transposing the hazards linked with combustion in petrol and diesel engines.

If drastic measures are not taken to ensure cleaner air in urban areas, the luxury of riding in a car will reduce life expectancy in crowded communities in Ghana. We shall continue to transport urban dwellers to the countryside (with cleaner air) for burial services after they die from air pollution.

Reduction of import duties is a remarkable feat, however, the lasting effects of vehicular emissions could kill many citizens and spectators in their quest to maximize profit. These used cars, deemed unfit for roads abroad, become a bait to shorten lives in Ghana through air pollution and motor accidents.

If seeing is believing, I bet air pollution may go unnoticed in Ghana until our health centers run out of beds to treat lung infections in the near future. The principal mandate of government is to restore quality of life and reduce incidents of health defects but we'd rather make request for more hospital beds. We need apt monitoring and evaluation of policies to drive sustainable development before it gets out of control.

Ghana must work...Ghana must live...Let's protect of kids for a greater future!!

>>Lets fight air pollution now!!