Air pollution sickens traders at Tema Station in Korle Klottey

She said exposure to smoke causes her to suffer from colds, high blood pressure, eye irritation and eye pain.

Traders operating at the Tema Lorry Station in the Korle Klottey Municipality have expressed growing concern over their prolonged exposure to vehicular exhaust fumes, as health and environmental authorities warn that rising air pollution levels may be contributing to respiratory ailments in the area.

The traders say they spend several hours each day inhaling emissions from vehicles whose engines remain running while parked or awaiting passengers.

One affected trader, 31-year-old shoemaker Joseph Kwaku Opoku, who has worked at the station for the past three years, said he is increasingly worried about the toll vehicle emissions are taking on his health.

Mr Opoku, who noted that he works to support his parents, told Adom News that he is exposed to exhaust fumes from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

He said he frequently experiences chest tightness, recurrent colds and headaches, and has also been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

According to him, traders have repeatedly appealed to drivers to switch off their engines when vehicles are stationary, but their pleas are often disregarded.

Mr Opoku said he has had to purchase medication from pharmacies on about three occasions to manage his health issues.

Another trader, Ajaw Boakyewaa, a mother of two who has sold wigs and hair products at the station for the past two years, also lamented the effects of vehicle emissions on her well-being.

She said exposure to smoke causes her to suffer from colds, high blood pressure, eye irritation and eye pain.

Ms Boakyewaa said traders frequently ask drivers to turn off their engines when vehicles are idle, but some drivers reportedly argue that the location is a lorry station and they are entitled to keep their engines running.

The concerns come amid warnings from health authorities that respiratory illnesses are on the rise in Accra.

The Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Robert Amissiya, said health authorities are implementing measures to address the situation while urging the public to avoid activities that worsen air pollution, particularly open burning.

He also advised individuals who are regularly exposed to smoke and polluted air to wear nose masks as a protective measure.

The Municipal Health Promotion Officer for Korle Klottey, Daniel Kwame Amaning, said the municipality recorded an increase in respiratory illnesses about three years ago.

He attributed the reduction in cases recorded this year partly to public education campaigns on the dangers of open burning.

The Environmental Health Director for Korle Klottey also confirmed that pollution sensors installed around the Circle area and some lorry stations within the municipality have registered elevated pollution levels.

He said the Environmental Health Department has consequently intensified education programmes at lorry stations, engaging drivers, traders and residents on the health risks associated with vehicle emissions and open burning.

According to him, the education is gradually helping people understand the dangers of air pollution and adopt healthier practices.

Meanwhile, Kwadwo R. Ansong Asante, Deputy Director and Acting Director at the CSIR-Water Research Institute, has warned that prolonged exposure to vehicle emissions could have serious health consequences, including an increased risk of cancer.

He called for stronger measures to prevent highly polluting vehicles from operating and urged the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen vehicle emissions testing.

Mr Asante said effective testing would help identify vehicles producing excessive smoke and ensure that appropriate action is taken.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius NiiQuaye Kotey, said the authority is currently reviewing its plans for emissions testing and will follow the appropriate procurement process before implementation.

The concerns raised by traders at the Tema Lorry Station have renewed calls for stronger enforcement of vehicle emission regulations across Korle Klottey, particularly at busy transport terminals where drivers, traders and commuters spend long periods exposed to exhaust fumes.

Health and environmental authorities say sustained public education, effective emissions testing and strict enforcement of existing regulations are essential to reducing air pollution and protecting workers and residents from pollution-related illnesses.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives, with funding from the Clean Air Fund. The donor had no editorial input into the story’s content.

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