The Director of Research Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Joseph Wilson, has urged the public to take steps to clean cooking options to help tackle climate change.

Dr Joseph Wilson gave the advice during a town hall meeting with various stakeholders on the Cylinder Re-circulation Model [CRM] engagement held at the Ola Girls in Ho, highlighting the critical global and local challenges related to clean cooking energy and the necessary steps to improve LPG adoption in Ghana.

Global context

He noted that, despite global recognition of the need for modern and efficient energy for cooking, about one-third of the world’s population still lacks access to clean cooking technologies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Over three billion people without access to clean energy are primarily from Africa and Asia, where women and children bear the heaviest burden of collecting firewood and managing domestic tasks. Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuels is a significant health hazard, contributing to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and environmental degradation'' he said.

The Ghanaian situation

The NPA, according to Dr Joseph Wilson, regulates the petroleum downstream industry in Ghana, established under the NPA Act 2005 (Act 691). Since 1989, the Ghanaian government has introduced several initiatives to encourage the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking, including distributing cylinders to households, food vendors, hospitals, and educational institutions.

Policies such as the National Energy Policy (2010), the Sustainable Energy for All Action Plan (2012), and the 2013 Rural LPG Promotion Programme have aimed to improve access to clean energy and promote environmental sustainability.

He noted that over the years, Ghana’s LPG market has grown significantly, with improved storage infrastructure and increased market players. The demand for LPG has seen a compound annual growth rate of 2% from 2015 to 2023. However, household adoption of LPG has been slower, rising from 18% in 2010 to 37% currently, and despite a decline in the use of biomass for cooking, it remains high, with 54.3% of households using wood or charcoal as their main cooking fuel.

Challenges and solutions

The main challenges hindering LPG penetration in Ghana are availability, accessibility, and affordability. While infrastructure improvements and local production from the Ghana National Gas Company have addressed availability, accessibility and affordability remain significant barriers.

Dr Wilson noted that to tackle accessibility, the government approved an LPG promotion policy in 2017, introducing the Cylinder Re-circulation Model (CRM) for LPG distribution. The CRM aims to ensure that 50% of Ghanaian households have access to safe and environmentally friendly LPG by 2030. The model involves establishing cylinder exchange points, which are less expensive than setting up LPG refilling plants, and regular safety checks on cylinders.

Addressing affordability, Dr Wilson said the NPA is engaging the government to remove some of the taxes and levies on LPG, which currently constitute 8% of the total price. Reducing these costs is crucial to achieving the goal of 50% penetration by 2030.

Call to action

Dr Wilson emphasised that increasing household adoption of LPG as the main cooking fuel requires a collective effort from all stakeholders. The NPA has been actively educating and sensitizing stakeholders across the country on the safe use of LPG and the benefits of embracing the CRM. This engagement in Ho represents another step in that ongoing effort.

"Promoting LPG use and access in Africa will address environmental and health challenges and support sustainable development. However, this can only be achieved with the right policies and regulations to attract investments into the LPG market," Dr Wilson concluded. “We must work together to ensure that every Ghanaian household can access and afford clean cooking energy by 2030."

Dr Joseph Wilson's address highlights the urgency and collective responsibility needed to overcome the barriers to clean cooking energy, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Achibald Yaw Letsa said the project which started some years back is a good one and thus urged the public to go in for gas instead of the old way of cooking.