Ghana joins the global community today, 16 September 2026, to observe World Ozone Day under the theme “Global Action for a Cooler Planet,” commemorating the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and which this year celebrates, a decade since the adoption of the Protocol’s Kigali Amendment. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), as Ghana's National Ozone Unit in partnership with UNDP, marks the occasion with a review of the country's achievements in protecting the ozone layer and the climate, and a renewed call on all Ghanaians to support the nation's continuing transition to safer, climate-friendly cooling.

This Year's Global Theme

According to the Ozone Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this year's observance highlights how the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment together demonstrate that cooling the planet is achievable when countries act collectively, industries innovate responsibly, and international partnerships turn commitments into concrete action that benefits the climate, economies and people worldwide. The Secretariat notes that a decade after Kigali, the treaty continues to show that science-based policy, universal participation, strong compliance, dedicated financing and effective partnerships deliver real, measurable results empowering countries and industries to move to safer, more sustainable alternatives while still supporting economic development.

This milestone’s theme is a fitting moment for Ghana to reflect on nearly four decades of ozone preservation in accordance with the Montreal Protocol and ten years of accelerating climate-friendly cooling under the Kigali Amendment.

Ghana's Key Successes under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment

•   A Party to the Montreal Protocol Since 1989 : Ghana ratified the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1989 and has since ratified all its amendments, including the Kigali Amendment, formalising the country's commitment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) alongside its long-standing phase- out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

•  Complete phase-out of CFCs: Ghana successfully eliminated the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2010, well ahead of many peer countries, protecting both the ozone layer and public health from excess ultraviolet radiation.

•   Steady HCFC phase-down:  Under Stage  II  of  its HCFC Phase-out  Management  Plan  (HPMP), implemented with UNDP and UNEP as cooperating agencies and financed by the Multilateral Fund, Ghana continues to reduce hydrochlorofluorocarbon consumption in line with Montreal Protocol targets, supporting technicians and industry to move away from HCFC-22 in air-conditioning and refrigeration. Committed, under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to achieve 70 percent penetration of very-low-GWP refrigerants in air conditioners by 2030. This will eventually lead to the adoption of more energy-efficient cooling, lower household energy costs and greater access to modern, climate-friendly technologies.

• The EPA has secured the passage of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians Certification Regulations (L.I. 2503, 2025), which standardise training and certification for RAC technicians nationwide ensuring they can install, service, decommission and handle alternative natural and flammable refrigerants safely and responsibly, and prevent leaks.

•   The Passage of L.I. 2505 (2025) on the Management of ODS, Halocarbons, Halocarbon Alternatives and their Products which is the updated regulatory framework governing refrigerant imports and is used to support the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, targeting the phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) alongside traditional Ozone Depleting Substances.

•   Adopted the National Cooling Plan and the RAC Roadmap (2022) as a national roadmap to transform the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector toward high-efficiency, low Global Warming Potential (GWP) technologies.

•   Roll-out of a national voluntary “green label” scheme by the EPA’s National Ozone Unit, enabling consumers to identify air conditioners and refrigeration equipment using natural, low-global-warming- potential refrigerants such as propane (R290) and isobutane (R600a).

•   Ongoing training and engagement of customs officials, enforcement officers, and supervisory agencies to strengthen border controls, prevent illegal trade of substandard refrigerants and inefficient cooling appliances into the Ghanaian market.

•   The establishment of Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Centres of Excellence to support safe refrigerant management and reduce emissions from servicing and disposal of cooling equipment.

•  The National Committee on Ozone Depleting Substances (NACODS) continues to advise on ODS and HFC policy, while Ghana's National Cooling Plan and an import licensing and quota system for controlled substances help track and manage the country's ODS and HFC consumption baseline.

•  Working with international and private partners, Ghana has developed a national roadmap for managing ODS banks to manage the end of life of refrigerants, cooling appliance, foams under the Environmental Protection, Act 1124 (2025) and reducing emissions from the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector.

Transitioning to Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants

A central pillar of Ghana's Kigali Amendment obligations is the shift away from high global-warming-potential (GWP) HFCs toward natural and low-GWP refrigerants. The EPA in partnership with UNDP is actively promoting the adoption of natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons (R290/R600a), ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO2) in domestic, commercial and industrial refrigeration, alongside energy-efficient equipment design.

This transition is supported by the end-of-life management and recovery and recycling programmes for used refrigerants, the development of carbon dioxide (CO2) training programme for enhanced capacity and skills and stronger enforcement against the import of inefficient and high-GWP equipment. Together, these measures protect the ozone layer, reduce Ghana's greenhouse gas footprint, and position the country's cooling sector for long-term energy efficiency and economic competitiveness.

The EPA calls on every Ghanaian household, businesses, technicians and institutions to play their part:

•   Choose ozone- and climate-friendly appliances by checking labels for natural or low-GWP refrigerants and good energy ratings before buying fridges, freezers and air conditioners.

•   Engage only trained and certified RAC technicians for installation, servicing, repair and disposal of cooling equipment, to prevent illegal refrigerant venting and ensure safe handling.

•   Maintain and service equipment properly and regularly to reduce refrigerant leaks, lower electricity bills and extend the life of appliances.

•   Dispose of old refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners responsibly through approved recovery and recycling schemes rather than dumping them.

•   Avoid patronising unregistered importers of refrigerants and second-hand cooling equipment, which may carry banned or high-GWP substances.

•   Report suspected illegal trade in banned refrigerants or the importation of substandard cooling equipment to the EPA.

•   Raise awareness in schools, workplaces and communities about the ozone layer, climate change and

Ghana's obligations under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.

In return, Ghanaians stand to benefit directly: continued protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation and its associated health risks such as skin cancer and cataracts; lower household and business energy costs through more efficient cooling technology; new skills and green jobs for certified technicians and local industry; and a stronger, more resilient Ghanaian economy.

This year’s Global action for a cooler planet is not just an international slogan, it is a call that speaks directly to Ghanaian households, technicians and industry. Every trained and certified technician engaged, every eco-labelled appliance chosen, and every properly recovered refrigerant is a Ghanaian contribution to a treaty that has already prevented enormous damage to human health and the planet.

As the world marks ten years of the Kigali Amendment and looks ahead to further reduction in HFC consumption, the EPA with UNDP reaffirm Ghana's commitment to full compliance with the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. The Authority therefore thanks its development partners UNEP, UNDP and GIZ as well as RAC technicians especially the female RAC technicians, industry, and the Ghanaian public for their continued perseverance and support.

The Authority invites all Ghanaians to join the World Ozone Day 2026 commemorative activities taking place this week, including public education campaigns, female RAC technician trainings and media engagements, and to visit the EPA, UNEP, UNDP and Ozone Secretariat websites for further information on the global campaign.