Audio By Carbonatix Questions are mounting over the design and safety of Ghana’s hospitals, as new evidence points to deteriorating air quality, unsafe carbon dioxide levels, and ventilation systems that may be fuelling the spread of infections. A senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Prof. Amankwaa, is warning that many of the country’s health facilities are not built to withstand a changing climate. Air-conditioning, long seen as a symbol of modern, safe, and comfortable healthcare, is now under scrutiny. In many wards, it may be doing the opposite, circulating risk instead of reducing it. Emerging findings show that carbon dioxide levels in some hospital spaces are rising beyond acceptable limits, with air quality deteriorating in environments meant for healing. “They leave the AC on, thinking it's blowing, but it's not blowing anything. It's just the air that is recirculating in there,” Prof. Amankwaa said. “We established poor air quality in the OPD, the children’s ward, and the paediatric unit; all had very high CO₂ concentrations beyond the acceptable limit.” In sealed, air-conditioned wards, air does not circulate; it stagnates. And with it, bacteria, viruses, and heat. The research reveals a sharp contrast: wards with natural ventilation, like open windows and cross-breezes, record significantly better air quality, while enclosed, air-conditioned spaces trap stale, potentially contaminated air. “We realised that in most of the wards, the air conditioners were not working,” he added. “That creates humid conditions. If someone has an infection, the air simply recirculates pathogens and bacteria.” The implications are stark. According to Prof. Amankwaa, such conditions may have contributed to fears during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many avoided hospitals over concerns they could contract infections there. For some patients, the issue is deeply personal. Mothers worry not just about treatment but also about the quality of air their children are forced to breathe. “As for us adults, we can manage, but what about the children?” one mother, Akosua, questioned. “In the past, we were told that too much air was not good for newborn babies. Now the ward has AC.” Others argue that while air-conditioning should not be discarded entirely, stricter infection control measures must accompany it. “I prefer air-conditioning in wards because some people are used to it at home,” one patient said. “But there should be protocols, like wearing nose masks, so infections don’t spread.” As temperatures rise and heatwaves intensify, the debate is shifting from comfort to survival. Are Ghana’s hospitals climate resilient or climate fragile? “Climate fragile,” Prof. Amankwaa stated bluntly. “We are not building climate-resilient hospitals, and we are not putting up climate-proof infrastructure.” He argues that the solution may not lie in more machines but in revisiting time-tested design principles.“We need to go back to the old architecture,” he advised. “Many older hospital buildings had vents designed to release warm air, while windows allowed cool air in. Today, those vents are blocked. Everything is sealed, and we are unable to maintain the AC systems we depend on.” He warns that without proper maintenance and monitoring, conditions inside hospital wards will continue to deteriorate, undermining patient recovery rather than supporting it. “After two years, you begin to see facilities deteriorate because we are not maintaining them,” he said. “Patients are left in conditions that do not contribute to their healing.” Air-conditioning may bring comfort. But without proper ventilation and resilience, it risks turning hospital wards into sealed spaces of heat, humidity, and recycled infection. In an era of climate change, the future of healthcare may depend on a simple but urgent shift: not just cooling the air, but letting it flow. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Tags: Carbon Dioxide Climate change Climate evidence DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Related to this story A coastal fishmonger’s honest view on climate change and the search for sustainable alternatives Climate Evidence: Chorkor fishmongers trapped between livelihood and harmful smoke exposure Water crisis deepens in Savelugu as changing weather patterns worsen shortages African meteorological community celebrates launch of new continental journal Earth Day 2026: Why fighting climate change matters more than ever for Africa Farmers face rising poverty and insecurity in northern Ghana due to climate pressures Extreme heat linked to rising anxiety, aggression – Experts warn Extreme classroom heat affecting pupils’ learning, cognitive performance – experts warn AFRIWOC rebrands as African Women and Youth Climate Centre to scale climate action What Is Wrong with Us? When we treat trees as strangers and forget we are part of nature Latest Stories Carbon dioxide levels in some hospital wards are above acceptable limits – Prof. Amankwaa5 minutes ADR Centre, Judicial Service deepen partnership to strengthen dispute resolution in Ghana17 minutes Judicial Service to recruit more professional mediators to expand court-connected ADR programme19 minutes GNAT demands probe into alleged assault on teachers by soldiers22 minutes Video: The abandoned but completed and fully-equipped Children’s Specialist Hospital at Weija30 minutes CEO of MobileMoney Ltd joins MoMAG to celebrate May Day with sports and solidarity30 minutes UniMAC leads national conversation on World Press Freedom Day in Ghana32 minutes Allied Health professionals object to withdrawal of Korle Bu Laboratory head’s appointment37 minutes Health Ministry rolls out National Health Compact to strengthen healthcare system40 minutes Gov’t urged to urgently rehabilitate Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway46 minutes GRMA urges gov’t to scale up specialised midwifery training to reduce maternal mortality49 minutes Black Stars have succeeded through poor administration but it’s difficult this time – Herbert Mensah57 minutes GFA must take responsibility if Black Stars fail – Herbert Mensah1 hour Inside Mahama’s AI bet1 hour EU-accredited university unveils $5,000 Charles Agyinasare Scholarship for Ghanaians1 hour