Free LPG cylinders for Savelugu/Nanton residents
More than 2000 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and cook stoves are to be distributed to residents in the Savelugu/Nanton Municipality in the Northern Region.
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It forms part of the Rural LPG Promotion Programme (RLPGPP), which seeks to address the challenges associated with the use of solid fuel.
Two other districts, Gushiegu and Saboba, would also benefit from the project.
Politicisation
Launching the project last Saturday, the Minister for Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, appealed to the public to disassociate politics from the distribution exercise.
According to him, the exercise was part of measures by the government to reduce deforestation by providing a cleaner, healthier and safer form of cooking fuel.
“This programme is not a political one but a national exercise funded by the government through the Ministry of Petroleum”, he said, adding “I entreat you all to delink this exercise from politics”.
It was on the theme: “Promoting the use of LPG as a cleaner, healthier and safer fuel for cooking and creating jobs”.
Purpose
Mr Buah further explained that the free LPG distribution exercise was to reverse the detrimental effects of the continued burning of more than 13 million tonnes of firewood annually in the country.
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That, he said, would reduce the incidence of respiratory infections acquired through the production and use of charcoal and firewood.
The minister added that the project would also save mothers and children from the drudgery and dangers of fetching firewood.
According to him, the ministry expected to improve and increase access to LPG in rural areas from three per cent in 2012 to 15 per cent by the end of 2016.
Engaging LPG companies
The minister indicated that his outfit had also engaged some LPG marketing companies and local dealers to set up refill plants in the low access districts to enable the beneficiaries to have easy access to refill plants.
“All these efforts are towards creating wealth and employment opportunities for Ghanaians to ensure that domestic LPG produced at our gas processing plant at Atuabo benefits all Ghanaians”, he stated.
Mr Buah said “this partnership would ensure the constant supply and safety of refilled LPG cylinders in a cylinder recirculation model”.
He, however, cautioned the beneficiaries to exercise safety precautions in the use of the LPG cylinders and also refrain from reverting to the use of firewood and charcoal.
Commendation
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Savelugu Constituency, Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, in a speech read on her behalf, said women and children in the district walked long distances on a daily basis to fetch firewood and charcoal for cooking.
“I have no doubt that this project will bring a lot of relief to our women and also cut down the incidence of respiratory diseases associated with the burning of charcoal”, she said.