* Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen.
Engr Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, Director of the West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (WAJESHA), has won the Best Environment, Science, and Climate Reporter award at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Ashanti Regional Media Excellence Awards.
The award, presented on October 24, 2026, recognises his investigative report on the removal of catalytic converters from vehicles in Ghana and the potential consequences for air quality and public health.
Published by MyJoyOnline on December 21, 2025, the investigation, titled “Experts Say Missing Engine Part in Most Ghanaian Vehicles Polluting Air, Sickening People,” examined how the removal of catalytic converters allows harmful vehicle emissions to enter the atmosphere without adequate treatment.
The report investigated the practice in Kumasi, focusing on automobile repair workshops, the economic incentives behind the removal of the devices and the potential health risks faced by people living and working around busy roads.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals that help transform harmful substances in vehicle exhaust into less harmful emissions. However, their resale value, coupled with the cost of replacing faulty units, has encouraged some motorists to remove them, while others have reportedly had the components stolen without their knowledge.
At Suame Magazine, a major automobile repair centre in Kumasi, Mohammed-Nurudeen spoke with mechanics about the practice and examined claims that removing catalytic converters could improve vehicle performance or reduce maintenance costs.
The investigation also featured insights from Dr Godwin Kafui Ayetor, a senior automobile engineering lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who explained the technical implications of removing the emissions-control components.
Investigation Highlights Public Health Concerns
Beyond automobile workshops, the report examined the potential consequences of vehicle emissions for traders, commuters and schoolchildren who spend extended periods in areas with heavy traffic.
At Kumasi Central Market, traders described their daily exposure to vehicle fumes while working close to busy roads.
The investigation also drew on research conducted by a team from KNUST’s Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, which monitored air pollution at 14 schools in Kumasi between 2022 and 2024.
According to Dr Edmund Yamba, who led the study, most of the monitored schools recorded pollution levels above safe limits, with schools located near busy roads facing particular concerns.
The report further examined Ghana’s regulatory framework for air pollution, including the Environmental Protection Act, 2025, and the importance of effective vehicle-emission testing.
Selina Amoah, Head of the Environmental Quality Unit at the Environmental Protection Authority, discussed regulatory measures designed to control emissions from vehicles and other pollution sources.
By combining expert opinions, evidence from research and accounts from people affected by roadside pollution, the investigation connected a technical issue in vehicle maintenance with broader environmental and public health concerns.
Recognition for Specialist Journalism
The GJA Ashanti Regional Media Excellence Awards recognise journalistic work produced during the 2025 calendar year. The awards were presented in 2026 under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Championing Credibility: Journalism in the Age of AI.”
Mohammed-Nurudeen’s recognition highlights the contribution of specialist journalism to public understanding of environmental challenges, particularly issues that require journalists to interpret scientific evidence, scrutinise regulatory measures and explain technical subjects in accessible language.
Environmental reporting in Ghana covers a broad range of concerns, including air pollution, illegal mining, deforestation, waste management and the effects of climate change on livelihoods.
His award-winning investigation illustrates how journalism can examine the relationship between everyday practices, environmental regulation and public welfare.
Strengthening Environmental Journalism Across West Africa
As Director of WAJESHA, Mohammed-Nurudeen is involved in efforts to strengthen reporting on environmental, scientific, health and agricultural issues across West Africa.
The regional journalism network seeks to connect journalists with relevant expertise, resources and professional networks to support accurate and informed reporting on issues affecting communities across the region.
These specialist areas have significant implications for public welfare. Environmental degradation threatens ecosystems and livelihoods, climate pressures affect food production, and public health challenges often require clear communication of scientific evidence.
Mohammed-Nurudeen’s award therefore brings attention not only to his individual achievement but also to the importance of building journalistic capacity to investigate complex environmental issues.
His catalytic-converter investigation underscores the need for responsible vehicle maintenance, effective enforcement of emissions standards and sustained public attention to air quality.
For residents, traders and schoolchildren exposed to roadside pollution, the issue extends beyond automobile repair to the quality of the air they breathe.
The recognition reinforces the role of investigative and specialist journalism in bringing such concerns to public attention and encouraging informed discussion about environmental protection and accountability.