Silent killer: Raising awareness of radon in Ghana
When we talk about health risks in Ghana, we often think of air pollution, unsafe water, or infectious diseases.
But there is one risk we rarely discuss — a silent, invisible gas that could be present in our homes, schools, and workplaces: radon.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that forms from the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil.
It seeps through the ground and can enter buildings through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations. Once inside, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
Globally, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.
The World Health Organisation has classified it as a major environmental carcinogen.
Yet in Ghana, awareness about radon remains extremely low.
Most people have never heard of it, let alone tested their homes, workplaces or schools for it.
In many other countries, radon testing is part of routine home and school inspections. Buildings with high levels are modified to improve ventilation or seal entry points.
These actions can significantly reduce exposure and save lives.
Unfortunately, such measures are virtually unheard of in Ghana—not due to cost, but due to lack of awareness and policy.
Certain regions in Ghana—especially those with granite-rich soils or fractured rock—may be more likely to release radon.
For example, parts of the Greater Accra and Eastern regions lie on granite bedrock and could be vulnerable to radon accumulation.
Other areas, such as parts of Ashanti and the Upper East, also share similar geological features.
Without widespread testing, however, it is difficult to determine which buildings or areas may be at higher risk—making public awareness and early screening all the more important.
Testing for radon is simple and inexpensive.
In other countries, small kits are placed in the home or office for a few days and then sent to a lab.
If high levels are found, mitigation can often be done with basic ventilation or sealing cracks in floors and walls.
So why hasn’t radon testing caught on in Ghana?
One reason is awareness.
Radon is colourless, odourless and tasteless—it doesn’t cause immediate symptoms.
Its health effects, like lung cancer, can take years to appear.
This makes it easy to overlook in public health discussions that tend to focus on more visible or urgent issues.
But radon deserves our attention.
As Ghana continues to grow, with new buildings and neighbourhoods rising across the country, now is the time to consider how we can build safely.
Raising public awareness is the first step.
Testing programmes, especially in schools and residential areas, would give us a clearer picture of where the risks are, and including radon education in health campaigns and environmental science programmes would help ensure that the next generation of Ghanaians understands the issue.
This is a conversation we must start now.
The good news is that radon risk is preventable—but only if we know it exists.
The writer is a PhD Candidate in Chemistry (Geology),
Georgia State University.
E-mail: caannan71@gmail.com
