Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Marian Asantewaah Nkansah, has revealed that school kitchens are a major source of environmental pollution in academic settings, posing serious health risks to students and staff in Senior High Schools across the country.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at the Annual Lecture in the Sciences organized by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences at its premises in Accra on Thursday, October 9, Prof. Nkansah noted that the use of solid fuels indoors is one of the leading causes of respiratory diseases among kitchen staff, students, and others within school environments.
“The polluted air in these environments becomes a daily health risk to both teachers, non-teaching staff, and students who come to teach and learn,” she explained. “The chemicals released from burning solid fuels remain trapped in the immediate surroundings and are inhaled, leading to severe health issues such as respiratory problems, mild seizures, and other conditions that disrupt the body’s normal functions. Over time, this exposure poses significant long-term health risks to individuals who operate in such toxic environments.”
Prof. Nkansah therefore advocated for the adoption of clean cooking fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in schools, especially those with enclosed kitchens, to reduce air pollution and promote a healthier environment for both kitchen staff and students.
“Through my research, I am suggesting that the state, through relevant agencies like the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and other allied bodies, should collaborate to draft a coherent policy promoting the use of clean cooking fuels in public institutions—not only schools,” she said. “Once codified in law, such a policy will help reduce dependence on solid fuels and encourage a transition to cleaner alternatives such as LPG and plant-based fuels, ultimately mitigating the long-term health hazards associated with solid fuel use.”
She further proposed practical steps for implementing this recommendation.
“The government can work with research agencies such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and private industries to develop modern, energy-efficient alternatives like cookstoves, which can serve as a sustainable way forward,” she added.
The 2025 Annual Lecture Series in the Sciences was held on the theme: “Fuel for Thought: The Impact of Cooking Fuels on High School Air Quality.”
The event brought together selected students from Accra Academy, student nurses, journalists, and members of the general public to learn about the current issues surrounding air quality and their broader health implications.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
