Environmental Impacts of COVID-19: A Study of Ghana

doi:10.7176/jees/11-12-03

Abstract

Aim of this study is gathering secondary data and portrays a picture of the environment of Ghana under pandemic effects. Global spread of COVID-19 for quite a short time brought a considerable reduction in industrial activities, road traffic and tourism. Restricted human interaction with nature during this crisis time has appeared as a blessing for nature and environment. Reports from all over the world are indicating that after the outbreak of COVID-19, environmental conditions including air quality and water quality in rivers are improving and wildlife is blooming. Ghana has always been a hub of pollution with huge population, heavy traffics and polluting industries leading to high air pollution in the capital of Ghana-Accra. After the implementation of lockdown by the government of Ghana due to COVID-19, air quality improved and other environmental indicators such as water quality in rivers gave a positive sign towards restoring. The lockdown also had its negative effects on the environment. This study provides evidence-based insight into improvement of air quality, noise pollution during pre and post lockdown of this pandemic. Air quality indicators PM 2.5 , PM 10 and NO 2 concentrations were factored in the analysis of the study. The study also observed no significant improvement in land littering before and after the lockdown period as face masks, coverings and plastic hand sanitizers added to the existing volume of waste in the environment. Keywords: Air quality, land littering, noise pollution, carbon emission, ozone layer. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-12-03 Publication date: December 31 st 2021

Highlights

The world faced number of pandemic diseases from man history resulting in millions of people dying from every pandemic disease
Other positive impacts on the environment include governance system-controlled investments towards a sustainable energy transition and other goals related to environmental protection such as the European Union’s seven -year € 1 trillion budget proposal and €750 billion recovery plan “ Generation EU” which seeks to reserve 25% of EU spending for climate-friendly expenditure (Simon, Frédéric 2020 and Carpenter, Scott 2020).The main objective of the study is to investigate the environmental impacts of COVID-19 in Ghana ;(I) examining the impacts on air quality; (ii) the impact on land ;(iii) Ozone layer and;(iv) impact on noise pollution
Ambient air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2016; this mortality is due to exposure to small particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers According to World Health Organization (WHO) (2016), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year

Summary

Introduction

The world faced number of pandemic diseases from man history resulting in millions of people dying from every pandemic disease. The current pandemic that has become a challenge Worldwide is COVID-19 known as Coronavirus disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). With regards to the issue of Coronavirus (2019), the first case was reported to World Health Organization (WHO) country office in Wuhan, China on 31st December, 2019 with symptoms of unexplained low respiratory infections. This was categorized as “pneumonia of unknown etiology” as the cause of infection was not known. As of 3rd August, 2020, more than 18 million cases have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 689, 000 death; more than 10.6 million people have recovered (WHO, 2020)

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