{
  "id": 2569412,
  "title": "Health walk finds pockets of dirty air on some Accra streets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/health-walk-finds-pockets-of-dirty-air-on-some-accra-streets",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-22T11:46:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/health-walk-finds-pockets-of-dirty-air-on-some-accra-streets/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A health walk conducted in Accra has revealed pockets of high air pollution levels throughout the city. Held on August 15, 2026, the 7-kilometre walk was organized by the Global Shapers Accra Hub and UrbanBetter Accra Hub as part of the Roots & Routes initiative. The route passed through key locations such as the Parliament, Electoral Commission, Police Headquarters, the UK Embassy, UniMAC-IJ, and the Liberation Road leading to the National Theatre.\n\nParticipants carried AirBeam monitors, which measured PM2.5 particles, which can enter deep into the lungs and have long-term health effects. The lowest PM2.5 reading was 8 micrograms per cubic meter, while the average was 28 micrograms per cubic meter. The World Health Organization recommends an average exposure of no more than 15 micrograms per cubic meter per day.\n\nPollution levels increased notably on Liberation Road, especially near vehicles emitting high levels of pollutants. At times, readings exceeded 100 micrograms per cubic meter. The highest reading of 107 micrograms per cubic meter was recorded close to the Niger Embassy, where open burning of waste was observed. Open burning is illegal under Ghana’s Environmental Protection Act of 2025.\n\nOn quieter roads, pollution levels were lower, but the walk demonstrated that air quality can fluctuate sharply based on location and surrounding activities. The organizers emphasized that while the data represents short-term snapshots, it highlights the daily impact of air pollution on people's health and daily activities.\n\nFor the organizers, the walk was a platform for ordinary citizens to gather real-time air quality information and understand the impact of pollution in different parts of the city. By using portable sensors, they captured data that will help advocate for cleaner and safer urban spaces in Accra. The collected data will support discussions about improving mobility and air quality in the city to create healthier living environments.",
  "summary": "A health walk through some of Accra’s busiest streets has found that people can be exposed to high levels of air pollution even while walking through the city. The Global Shapers Accra Hub, in partnership with the UrbanBetter Accra Hub, organized the 7-kilometre walk on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as part of the Roots & Routes: Health Walk and Urban Canopy Initiative. The walk started and ended at…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}