Quali-breeze And Climate Watch Africa Partner To Empower Journalists On Climate And Air Quality Reporting

Accra, October 16, 2025 — The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quali-Breeze, Mr. Paul Nwachukwu, has underscored the critical role of journalists in driving public awareness and behavioural change towards cleaner air and a safer environment. He was speaking during a Workshop on Climate Reporting for Journalists organized by Quali-Breeze in collaboration with Climate Watch Africa and the Climate Change Department of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) at the Accra City Hotel.

Mr. Nwachukwu explained that engaging the media was central to the organization’s advocacy strategy, as journalists serve as “the key drivers” of information and public education on environmental issues. “For us, advocacy is about reaching out to educate people and create social awareness. Journalists play the most important role because they send information to the community, raise issues, and help find solutions,” he said.

He added that the workshop aimed to strengthen media understanding of air pollution and climate change, citing recent findings from Quali-Breeze’s Kasoa Air Quality Study. “Kasoa might just be a case study for us, but what happens there can be replicated across many parts of Ghana. Using Kasoa as a point of contact, we want to drive solutions,” he explained.

According to Mr. Nwachukwu, the initiative has a personal motivation: “Having a son who is asthmatic makes this issue personal for me. Many respiratory diseases are linked to air pollution, yet people don’t recognize the connection. We want to educate the public so that they understand the health and environmental implications.”

He further noted that Quali-Breeze’s Air Quality Installation Project, which involves schools in Kasoa, aims to raise environmental consciousness among children, enabling them to influence their families and communities. “We’re using schools because of their safety and their potential to spread knowledge. Educating children helps drive the message home,” he said.

Beyond media engagement, Mr. Nwachukwu emphasized continuous community sensitization efforts. “We are taking this message to churches, mosques, and traditional leaders to help curb harmful practices such as open waste burning and the use of firewood. Good health and a sustainable future depend on a clean environment,” he added.

Addressing the issue of air pollution sources, he noted that burning and smoke emissions from street cooking and waste disposal were among the most serious problems in Kasoa. He stressed that sustainable solutions require both data-driven monitoring and collaboration with policymakers to inform effective environmental policy reforms.

On his part, Dr. Derek Sarfo-Yiadom, Programme Officer at the Climate Change and Ozone Department of the EPA, commended the initiative, describing it as “a timely and strategic intervention to enhance media capacity on climate and air quality reporting.”

He observed that climate and air quality stories in Ghana often lack scientific depth. “This workshop helps journalists understand the nuances of these technical issues, enabling them to communicate more accurately and effectively with the public,” he said.

Dr. Sarfo-Yiadom also highlighted the EPA’s ongoing transformation under its new Act 1124 (2025), which expands its mandate and enforcement capabilities. “The new act allows us to operate district by district, broaden our monitoring systems, and strengthen compliance and coordination,” he said.

Offering advice to the media, he urged journalists to use simple and relatable language when communicating climate issues. “Climate change is already happening in our communities. The press must communicate in a way everyone understands, bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and local experience,” he said.

Both organizations pledged continued collaboration with the media and local stakeholders to strengthen Ghana’s response to air pollution and climate change, while promoting a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.

Story by Eugene Nyarko Jnr.