MMDAs to Enforce Fines, Jail for Pollution Violations
Ghana is finalizing a draft bylaw for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to curb air pollution, announced on July 3, 2025. It targets open burning, vehicular emissions, construction dust, vehicle and carpentry spraying, and small-scale industrial pollution, with fines up to GHS1,200, 30-180 days in jail, or both.
At a stakeholder meeting, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, via Chief Director Lilian Baeka, called the bylaw vital for public health and environmental protection. She urged pilot assemblies to refine it for nationwide adoption, ensuring cleaner air across Ghana’s communities.
The forum included 13 of 29 MMDAs, the EPA, DVLA, and security agencies. Augustine Niber of CEPIL said the bylaw strengthens collaboration to protect air quality. Ghana’s air pollution averages 35 microgrammes per cubic metre, double WHO’s safe limit, with spikes in Kaneshie and Tetteh Quarshie reaching 200 microgrammes.
Dr. Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour of Breathe Cities highlighted the rise of electric vehicles as a pollution-free option, urging their adoption. The bylaw aims to enforce accountability, reduce health risks, and support sustainable development through stricter local regulations.
As Ghana battles air pollution, linked to 28,000 annual deaths, the bylaw is a step toward cleaner air. With public and institutional support, it could set a model for other regions, addressing the urgent need to tackle environmental and health challenges.