The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has established the West Africa Centre for Clean Air (WACCA). This new centre aims to build stronger regional partnerships and secure long-term support for air-quality management. Its launch comes as global funding for clean-air action continues to decline significantly.
International development funding for outdoor air-quality action in sub-Saharan Africa fell by 91% in 2023. This dramatic drop saw funding decrease from US$129 million in 2022 to just US$12 million in 2023. This severe funding squeeze makes WACCA's mission to attract investment and foster regional collaboration even more critical.
This development fits into a broader narrative of African nations confronting growing environmental challenges. Rapid urbanisation, increasing transport emissions, and household pollution contribute to worsening air quality. The decline in international funding exacerbates the difficulty in addressing these issues effectively. Between 2019 and 2023, air-quality projects received only 1% of total international development funding, highlighting a persistent underinvestment.
Dr. Yen Adams Sokama-Neuyam, WACCA's Coordinator, represented the centre at the 2026 Africa Clean Air Forum. He stated, “Most importantly, it enables us to build the networks that we need to be able to drive this regional centre of excellence that we've just established.” Dr. Sokama-Neuyam also serves as a Senior Lecturer in Petroleum Engineering at KNUST. He is also the Scientific Director of the university's Net-Zero Carbon Emission Lab.
The centre's establishment and its pursuit of partnerships are crucial for Ghana and the wider West African region. It aims to strengthen the link between air-quality science and policymaking. WACCA will also support capacity building and regional cooperation. This focus is vital given the current funding landscape, which Dr. Sokama-Neuyam described as increasingly difficult. He noted that many institutions are cutting back on research investments. However, he observed some improvement in access to air-quality funding within Ghana's research space.
WACCA is part of a project supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). This project aims to strengthen Ghana's air-quality management policies. It also seeks to build national and regional capacity for effective air-quality management. The initiative involves KNUST, the University of Energy and Natural Resources, and Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Ghana already possesses a strong foundation of researchers and institutions working on air quality. WACCA plans to significantly expand this existing capacity.
The centre's ambition is regional, aiming to spearhead air quality research, policy, and integration. It will also focus on regional regulation and implementation. This regional mandate is particularly important as African countries face increasing air pollution sources. These include waste burning and industrial emissions. Professor Francis Kemausuor, a KNUST professor specialising in bioenergy technology, also attended the Pretoria forum. His expertise complements WACCA's mission.
The team at KNUST is already planning for the centre's long-term sustainability beyond its initial funding cycle. Dr. Sokama-Neuyam confirmed that they are engaging various institutions and funding agencies. This proactive approach is essential to ensure WACCA can continue its vital work. The centre's success will depend on its ability to secure diverse and sustained financial support. This will allow it to address the critical air quality challenges facing West Africa.