The alarming figure was disclosed by Mr Francis Addo-Okyireh, Head of the Climate Change and Ozone Department at the EPA, during the launch of the Ghana Green Cooling Programme in Accra.
He explained that the sector’s emissions stem from high electricity consumption and the leakage of refrigerants with elevated global warming potential.

“However, this growing demand comes with a significant environmental cost. The new programme aims to fundamentally shift Ghana’s air-conditioning sector towards low-carbon cooling,” he said.
Mr Addo-Okyireh noted that population growth, urbanisation, and electrification were driving increased reliance on air-conditioning units.

He said the initiative, supported by the Swiss KliK Foundation, would promote the adoption of high efficiency “green split ACs” using natural refrigerants with ultra-low global warming potential.

“This transition presents a monumental opportunity to significantly reduce emissions and prevent harmful environmental impacts for decades to come,” he added.

Mr Michael Kofi Abrokwaa, Project Manager for the KliK Foundation in Ghana, said air conditioners had become essential for comfort, health, and economic activity.
“The implementation of the Ghana Green Cooling Programme will generate sustainable development benefits, including creating new skills and jobs for technicians, reducing pressure on Ghana’s electricity grid, and fostering healthier, safer communities,” he said.

He added that the programme would also strengthen technical capacity through training on green public procurement for government entities, in collaboration with the Public Procurement Authority.

Mrs Eunice A. Biritwum, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, said procurement officers in state institutions had been trained to apply the Most Economically Advantageous Tender process.

“This method takes into account the least total cost of ownership and the lowest environmental impact during the tender evaluation process,” she said.
She added that the Commission was developing policy measures to support financing, strengthen regulatory compliance, and integrate the cooling sector into Ghana’s climate commitments outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions.