Ghana: NPA Intensifies LPG Safety Campaign In Universities And Tertiary Institutions

Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has stepped up its nationwide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Campaign, extending the sensitization programme to universities and other tertiary institutions across the country.

The campaign, led by the Consumer Services Directorate in collaboration with the Corporate Affairs and Gas Directorates, seeks to promote the safe and efficient use of LPG, following recent gas-related incidents, including an explosion at the UDS–Nyankpala Campus that injured two students.

A team from the NPA, headed by Acting Director of Consumer Services, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, visited the Northern and Upper East Regions to educate students and traders in major markets on the health, safety, and environmental benefits of adopting LPG within a secure and well-regulated environment.

The sessions included interactive demonstrations, open fora, and the distribution of educational materials to deepen awareness of safe LPG use.

The team, which comprised Ing. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, a Supervisor at the Gas Directorate; officials from the Consumer Services and Corporate Affairs Directorates; and representatives from the respective Regional Offices, visited the University for Development Studies (UDS – Dungu and Nyankpala Campuses) and the Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Northern Region.

In the Upper East Region, the team interacted with students of the Bolgatanga and Zuarungu Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges, as well as traders at the Bolgatanga Main Market, among others.

Delivering an insightful presentation on LPG Safety Tips, Ing. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr conducted practical demonstrations on how to safely install, handle, and maintain LPG cylinders and accessories. He emphasized the importance of regular cylinder inspection, proper ventilation, and prompt response to gas leaks.

Ing. Gbagbo further enlightened the students on the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM)—a key national policy aimed at ensuring safety in LPG distribution—and encouraged them to become advocates of safe LPG practices both on campus and within their communities.

In her remarks, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko underscored the health and environmental benefits of LPG over traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. She cautioned that prolonged exposure to smoke from these fuels contributes significantly to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, while LPG offers a cleaner and safer alternative that aligns with the Authority’s sustainability and public health objectives.

Regional Managers and their representatives, who were part of the delegation, also sensitized participants on the broader regulatory functions of the Authority, including the siting and licensing of fuel stations.

They assured students and the general public that the Authority remains committed to maintaining safety standards across the downstream petroleum sector and operates an open-door policy to receive and address consumer concerns.