Tano South MP pushes urgent revival of Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company
The Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency, Charles Asiedu, has called for an immediate and coordinated national effort to revive the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMC), describing the state-owned firm as a key driver of Ghana’s clean cooking agenda and local industrial development.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Asiedu, who also serves on Parliament’s Energy Committee, said revitalising the company was crucial to expanding access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and strengthening the country’s domestic manufacturing base.
He explained that the company plays an important role in producing and distributing safe and affordable LPG cylinders, cookware and related accessories for both domestic consumption and export.
According to him, strengthening the company would help reduce Ghana’s dependence on firewood and charcoal for cooking, protect forest reserves and improve indoor air quality in homes.
“Revitalising the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company is not just about rescuing an ailing firm, it is about securing our clean energy future and protecting public health,” Mr Asiedu told the House.
He noted that although LPG is currently the main cooking fuel for about 40 per cent of Ghanaians, the country has set a target of reaching 50 per cent LPG penetration by 2030.
Achieving that goal, he said, would require a resilient local supply chain and expanded access to LPG cylinders, particularly in rural communities where usage remains relatively low.
The MP also drew attention to recent challenges faced by the company, including financial losses recorded in 2021 and operational difficulties that prompted a restructuring move in 2023, when Ghana National Gas Company acquired GCMC in an effort to stabilise its operations.
While he described the establishment of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition’s Joint Project Implementation Committee as a positive step, Mr Asiedu stressed that additional measures were necessary to fully restore the company’s operations.
He proposed a comprehensive revitalisation strategy that includes targeted government capital injections to modernise production lines, strategic partnerships with private investors and LPG marketers, and procurement policies that prioritise locally manufactured cylinders.
He also suggested leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand exports to neighbouring markets, alongside sustained public education on the benefits of LPG usage and stronger performance-based accountability within state-owned enterprises.
“These measures will not only revive an important industrial asset, they will create jobs, boost local manufacturing and help push Ghana toward its 2030 clean-cooking goals,” he said.
Mr Asiedu further highlighted the broader environmental and health benefits of expanding access to clean cooking energy.
He noted that global studies suggest universal access to clean cooking could reduce worldwide emissions by about 1.5 gigatonnes by 2030, presenting an opportunity for Ghana to position itself as a regional leader in climate-smart energy solutions.
The lawmaker therefore urged Parliament, the executive and private sector stakeholders to treat the revival of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company with urgency to ensure the country achieves its clean energy and industrialisation goals.
