Ghana: Half Of Ghana’s Population Must Have Access To LPG By 2030-Owuraku Aidoo

The Government of Ghana is working assiduously to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the 31 million Ghanaians will have access to safe, clean and environmentally friendly LPG by 2030.

This is according to the country’s Deputy Minister for Energy, William Owuraku Aidoo.

Speaking at the launch of the National LPG Promotion Programme in Obuasi, Ashanti Region, William Owuraku Aidoo said the Government of Ghana, over the past years, has undertaken programmes, activities and initiatives toward promoting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a safer, cleaner and healthier form of cooking fuel for households.

The Deputy Minister, who is also the MP for Afigya Kwabre South in the Ashanti Region, noted that the various promotional programmes carried out by the government over the years have led to some major investments in the LPG sector.

Consequently, he said access to LPG has increased over the years to the current 25.3 per cent.

“We have a more ambitious target. In the National LPG Promotion Policy, Government has set a target that at least 50% of Ghanaians should have access to safe, clean, and environmentally friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial usage by 2030.”

He continued: “Government recognises that the initial investment required to switch to the use of LPG remains a barrier. Ordinarily, the initial investment cost for a domestic user may include purchasing an LPG cylinder, cookstove, regulator, rubber hose and clippers.”

Mr. Owuraku-Aidoo further encouraged beneficiaries of the government’s intervention to sustain the use of LPG and not revert to firewood and charcoal, saying: “LPG is the safest, cleanest and healthiest form of cooking fuel available today and we urge all Ghanaians to switch to LPG now.”

On her part, the Queen-mother for Akrokeri and Chairperson for the event, Nana Serwaa Bruwaa II, called for massive support for the programme as they work towards decarbonising the country.

The government envisages that the rollout of the National LPG Promotion Programme using the Cylinder Recirculation Module as a vehicle for distribution will help Ghana achieve its goal in the use of LPG as a clean, safe and healthy cooking fuel and to satisfy Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7; which is affordable and clean energy and SDG 13; which is climate action.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com