Energy Ministry distributes stoves to women in Jamestown

The Ministry of Energy has distributed 700 cooking stoves to selected women at Jamestown as part of its ongoing efforts to promote clean cooking practices and improve public health and energy access.

The initiative aims to encourage the transition from traditional cooking methods such as firewood and charcoal to cleaner alternatives such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The move formed part of the National LPG Promotion Programme and the operationalisation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model to enhance safe and reliable LPG use. 

Commitment

The Minister of Energy, Herbert Krapa, said the government was committed to improving the lives of Ghanaians through sustainable energy solutions.

“This initiative is designed to bring life to the programmes we are running at the ministry, including the Cylinder Recirculation Model and the LPG Promotion Programme. By distributing these cookstoves, we are bringing these solutions closer to the people,” he said.

According to him, the prolonged use of firewood exposed women and children to harmful smoke and increased the risk of contracting respiratory illnesses.

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of our mothers and women who spend hours cooking with firewood and charcoal. These stoves and cylinders are intended to reduce exposure to harmful smoke, improve respiratory health and protect our environment by reducing deforestation,” the minister added.

Target

“By 2030, we aim to have 50 per cent of Ghanaians using cylinders for cooking rather than firewood. It’s an ambitious target, but we are confident in our capacity to achieve it,” he added.

Mr Krapa said the ministry would replicate this initiative in other regions as part of its commitment to ensuring sustainable and equitable access to energy solutions.

It was held at the 2024 Women in Energy Outreach Programme at Jamestown last Tuesday on the theme: “Spark A change, not a flame: Ignite a greener, healthier looking future”.

It aims at raising awareness of the benefits of clean cooking and making the necessary tools accessible to communities.

Participants were educated on the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), which simplifies LPG use by allowing users to exchange empty cylinders for pre-filled ones at designated vending stations.

The Chief Director of the ministry, Wilhelmina  Asamoah, emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying, “Clean cooking is not just about convenience; it touches on health, the environment and economic well-being. This distribution is just the beginning of our efforts to ensure cleaner and safer cooking for all”.