PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Ghana's Greater Accra Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Greater Accra

Greater Accra faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.0 million across 29 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.7µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 211 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Greater Accra met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.76 years longer.

That's 4.5M years of life stolen from 6.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Greater Accra. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Shai Osudoku
0.8 years lost
2.Ningo-Prampram
0.8 years lost
3.Ada East
0.8 years lost
4.Ablekuma Central
0.8 years lost
5.Tema
0.8 years lost
6.Ablekuma West
0.8 years lost
7.Tema West
0.8 years lost
8.Ga West
0.8 years lost
9.Ablekuma North
0.8 years lost
10.Ada West
0.8 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

100%

6.0M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 29 Districts in Greater Accra

Complete air quality data for every district in Greater Accra, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Kpone-Katamanso	458K	12.7	0.8 years
Ga South	386K	12.7	0.8 years
Ga Central	365K	12.3	0.7 years
Ga West	347K	12.9	0.8 years
Accra	312K	12.8	0.8 years
Ga East	308K	12.3	0.7 years
La-Nkwantanang-Madina	269K	12.0	0.7 years
Ga North	262K	12.6	0.7 years
Adenta	261K	12.3	0.7 years
Ledzokuku	237K	12.7	0.8 years
Weija Gbawe	233K	12.4	0.7 years
Ashaiman	225K	12.8	0.8 years
Ningo-Prampram	224K	13.5	0.8 years
Tema West	222K	12.9	0.8 years
Ablekuma Central	186K	13.2	0.8 years
Tema	183K	13.1	0.8 years
Okaikwei North	176K	12.5	0.7 years
Ablekuma North	175K	12.8	0.8 years
Krowor	161K	12.7	0.8 years
Ablekuma West	157K	13.1	0.8 years
La-Dade-Kotopon	153K	12.6	0.7 years
Shai Osudoku	116K	13.6	0.8 years
Ayawaso Central	104K	12.7	0.8 years
Ada East	83K	13.5	0.8 years
Ayawaso West	83K	12.2	0.7 years
Ada West	82K	12.8	0.8 years
Korle-Klottey	75K	12.3	0.7 years
Ayawaso North	65K	12.8	0.8 years
Ayawaso East	63K	12.4	0.7 years

Showing 29 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Greater Accra is Injurious to Health.