The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has issued a public advisory over the current weather conditions in the country, particularly Accra.
It said the current condition is as a result of dust lifted from around Chad, Sudan and Niger, as detected on meteorological satellites.
“This dust was transported into the country by strong winds at lower levels of the atmosphere,” the Agency said in a statement on Monday, February 20.
Due to the highly damaging effects of pollution exposure on vulnerable members of society, i.e. young children and the elderly, pregnant women, those with heightened sensitivity towards pollution, as well as those with pre-existing illnesses or compromised immune system, the population is advised to wear a mask outdoors, run an air purifier, close windows to avoid dirty outdoor air and avoid outdoor exercise.
The public have been advised to observe the following precautions:
- Keep hydrated
- Follow fire safety precautions
- Cover foods/water to prevent dust from settling on them
- Wash fruits thoroughly before taking them
- People allergic to dust are to wear nose masks to reduce the effect on them.
The Agency said the current weather condition may take some time to clear.
Meanwhile, Accra has been ranked the worst in terms of its air quality across the globe.
Together with Lahore, Pakistan, Ghana’s capital city is ranked in the ‘Very Unhealthy’ category on February 20, 2023 as at 12:32pm.
This is an improvement over what persisted on Sunday, February 19, 2023.
As it 4:4pm yesterday, Accra was dangerously hovering in the hazardous region.
“These conditions are expected to persist at varying intensities over the next few days.
“However, it is expected that there will be a relaxation in the intensity during the week and consequently,” the statement signed by the Acting Director-General of GMeT, Eric Asuman, said.