The President and Chief Executive Officer of Pure Earth, along with implementing partners and funding advisors, is scheduled to visit Ghana from 8th to 14th July 2025.
Andrew McCartor, President and CEO of Pure Earth, will be joined by Nida Parks, Chief of Staff and representatives from key donor partners: Margaret-Mary Pwamang, Bloomberg Philanthropies; Dan Kass, Vital Strategies; Santosh Harish and Olivia Larsen, Open Philanthropy.
This strategic visit underscores Pure Earth’s growing commitment to partnering with key government agencies in combatting toxic pollution and protecting public health, particularly the most vulnerable – children.
The delegation will also inspect ongoing projects and participate in high-level government and local authority meetings to learn from Ghana’s experience of tackling this menace.
A key feature of the mission will be inaugurating a Lead Technical Working Group – a multi-stakeholder platform designed to enhance coordination and effectiveness in addressing lead pollution. Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg) pollution remain among the most pressing and overlooked environmental health threats globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
The Toxic Truth report published by Pure Earth and UNICEF reveals that 1 in 3 children worldwide, about 800 million, have blood lead levels at or above 5 microgrammes per decilitre (mcg/dL); levels that can cause permanent memory loss, neurological damage and learning difficulties.
According to The Lancet Planetary Health, lead exposure contributed to an estimated 5.5 million deaths in 2019 – exceeding the combined total of deaths from car accidents (1.2 million), tuberculosis (1.18 million), HIV/AIDS (863,837), suicide (759,028) and malaria (643,381). If accurate, nearly 1 in 10 deaths globally can be linked to lead; with an economic cost estimated at 6.9 percent of global GDP, higher than the social cost of air pollution.
Yet these issues are tractable – and with coordinated actions progress is possible. The commitment and presence of Pure Earth leadership in Ghana reflect a renewed urgency to tackle these challenges head-on.
“This visit highlights our commitment to working in Ghana to tackle toxic pollution. Together, we aim to advance practical solutions that protect communities and ensure healthier futures for children,” said Mr. Andrew McCartor, President and CEO of Pure Earth.
Esmond Wisdom Quansah, DD, Country Director of Pure Earth Ghana added: “We look forward to deepening partnerships and showcasing progress as we work toward a cleaner, safer environment for all Ghanaians”.
This visit will engage government, regulatory and community stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on lead and mercury pollution mitigation. Through site visits, strategic discussions and inauguration of a Lead Technical Working Group, the delegation aims at enhancing national capacity to address toxic pollution, promoting evidence-based solutions and building lasting partnerships to protect the health of vulnerable communities.
About Pure Earth
Founded in 1999, Pure Earth is a global leader in advancing evidence-based solutions to mercury and lead pollution. With a focus on transparency, collaboration, measurable impact and technical excellence, we work across sectors to address the root causes of toxic exposure.
Pure Earth takes an interdisciplinary, solutions-oriented approach, bringing together environmental scientists, engineers, public health experts, social scientists, policymakers, industry leaders and community members to deliver high-impact interventions with measurable results.
Through strategic partnerships with governments, communities and industry, we implement practical solutions that prevent toxic exposures, protect public health and restore contaminated environments.
