Air pollution: Sokoban to get alternative livelihood programme

The People's Dialogue on Human Settlement, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has introduced an air pollution programme in Sokoban, a suburb of Kumasi, to reducing the harmful effects of air pollution in the community.

Sokoban Wood Village is the largest wood hub in Kumasi and most of the activities there include timber operations, charcoal production and scrap metal processing, which have been identified as major contributors to air pollution in the area.

The Project Coordinator for People's Dialogue on Human Settlements, Hamza Bawa Mahama, said the programme included air quality monitoring and assessment, community education and awareness campaigns.

He said the programme would focus on alternative livelihoods, sustainable wood processing practices and support for community-led initiatives to reduce air pollution, improve the well-being of the community and serve as a model for other wood processing hubs in the region.

Mr Cyril Amudzi, an Environmental Health Officer of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly expressed the Assembly's readiness to support the programme to succeed to make the communities a healthy place to live.