MTP gets instrument to detect, measure greenhouse gases

• Pastor Owona-Simpe beside the instrumentation system AN air quality monitoring and agric greenhouse gas instrumentation system have been installed at the Multi-Cultural Technology Park (MTP) at Fumesua in the Ashanti Region, to detect and measure 10 greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrogen oxides.

The MTP is under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI).

The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Consortium secured the cutting-edge Agricultural Greenhouse Gas and Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) instrumentation system—marking a major milestone in Ghana’s pursuit of climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability.

The acquisition was made possible through the technical leadership of Pastor Kwame Owona-Simpe, a Ghanaian-trained Electronics and Communications Engineer and GHG Instrumentation Lead for the ACE4ES project in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ACE4ES Consortium is a multidisciplinary initiative driving action across Sub-Saharan Africa aimed at promoting agroecology and circular economy principles to reduce agricultural emissions, enhance ecosystem services and improve food security and public health, among others.

Experts say the device will reshape how agricultural emissions are monitored, quantified, and validated across Ghana’s agroecological zones—providing critical data to inform research, policy, and farmer adaptation strategies.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times during the commissioning ceremony, Pastor Owona-Simpe explained that the system “captures soil fluxes, gaseous emissions, meteorological, and ambient data from both the immediate farm environment and surrounding atmosphere, offering scientists and policymakers a clearer picture of air quality in Ghana’s agroecological zones.”

The device, he stressed, was calibrated to track emissions from traditional farming practices such as slash-and-burn land clearing and flooded rice cultivation.

In rice paddies, it records methane—a greenhouse gas nearly 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide—while in maize and dryland farms, it detects pollutant spikes during biomass burning events.

Crucially, the system is programmed to trigger alerts when pollution levels exceed global air quality standards, enabling timely interventions by local authorities and environmental agencies.

“Biomass burning doesn’t just affect the climate—it’s a public health issue,” Pastor Owona-Simpe emphasised, adding that, “Women and children in rural communities are especially vulnerable to indoor air pollution from smoky cooking fuels.”

To address these challenges, ACE4ES is promoting the use of briquettes made from agricultural waste—an alternative fuel that produces fewer emissions and is with traditional stoves.

He said the Consortium was also advocating the repurposing of crop residues into organic fertiliser, mulch, or clean-burning briquettes, a strategy that reduces emissions while improving soil fertility.

Again, he mentioned that ACE4ES had launched a nationwide campaign to demonstrate the device and train farmers in sustainable biomass management.

The initiative aims to equip communities with practical tools, generate scientific data to inform policy, and promote cost-effective, and climate-resilient farming practices.

Moreover, as Ghana navigates the dual challenge of increasing food production while reducing its environmental footprint, innovations like the ACE4ES monitoring system are seen as vital.

Reducing black carbon and methane emissions from agriculture is essential for cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more resilient ecosystem.

Through the visionary leadership of Pastor Owona-Simpe and the strategic efforts of the ACE4ES Consortium, Ghana is taking a bold step toward integrating science, sustainability, and public health into its agricultural future.

FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI

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