Accra: As part of the campaign to enhance general air quality, Infinity970, a not-for-profit organisation, has organised sensitisation for selected schools in the Ayawaso Central Municipality in Accra. Supported by Breath Cities, the organisation engaged about 160 students and teaching staff in an interactive session, sharing perspectives on the effects of air pollution in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and beyond.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Emmanuel Lamptey, a Director at Infinity970, briefed the learners on the dangers and sources of polluted air and called for more responsible and environmentally-friendly practices. “Polluted air comes from different sources, including fumes from vehicles, production or manufacturing activities, and burning of waste,” he said. “Considering the potential health risks of unclean air, we all have to join hands and help control these activities that contaminate our environment.”
He urged educational institutions and other stakeholders to join the campaign against air pollution as awareness creation efforts were intensified on various platforms. Mr Lamptey addressed some misinformation about air pollution and highlighted the World Health Organization’s 2022 report, indicating that about 28,000 people die each year in Ghana due to air pollution. The presentation included practical case studies on air pollution to enhance students’ knowledge on best practices to safeguard the environment.
Nana Amoako, Head of Research at Infinity970, said the session formed part of other community engagements to be held in the Municipality and across the country. He urged the public to support the campaign and report incidents of air pollution to local authorities and through the organisation’s dedicated hotline 0579724072. Mrs Obiri Yeboah Givens, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, led the students to make declarations about helping to protect the environment and control air pollution.
Infinity970 aims to improve the lives and wellbeing of communities through communication, education, interaction, and advocacy. In June this year, the organisation, in partnership with Breath Cities, interacted with commercial drivers at Odwna (Kwame Nkrumah Circle) in Accra and urged citizens to refrain from burning waste indiscriminately in the capital. The campaign, among other things, encouraged residents to separate plastic waste from other household refuse to speed up recycling efforts and called for enforcement of by-laws that prohibit the burning of waste.