Fueling Change Now: Why LPG Triumphs Over Charcoal in Ghana
In Ghana, charcoal and firewood remain the primary cooking fuels for over 70 % of households—even though liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) offers clear advantages in health, environment, and efficiency, there are many homes and indiividuals who are oblivious of the advanatges or totally do not have access to LPG or its financing. The transition to LPG is both a key climate & health priority and a challenging socio‑economic transformation.
Cleaner Air and Health Savings
Charcoal combustion emits particulate matter (PM₂.₅), carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants that cause respiratory infections, chronic lung disease, even cancer, especially among women and children. According to frontiers 2022, households using LPG face dramatically lower exposure. This Ghanaian study found that, compared to traditional wood users, LPG users were over 100 percentage points less likely to incur healthcare expenses, while charcoal users saw around 28–54 pp reductions—highlighting LPG’s superior health benefits.
Environmental Benefits & Reduced Deforestation
With Ghana losing roughly 135,000 hectares of forest annually, solid fuel dependency contributes directly to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Switching home fuel to LPG—which is imported and not tied to local biomass—helps relieve pressure on forests, sequester carbon, and support climate goals. According to national LPG promotion efforts dating back to the late 1980s, increased LPG use correlated with notable reduction in woodfuel consumption in Ghana.
Efficiency, Time Savings & Quality of Life
LPG cooking is faster, cleaner, more consistent and regulated. It eliminates the labor of collecting firewood or charcoal, freeing women and girls to pursue education, career or business, and family care (Springler). The convenience also helps households move up the energy ladder, decreasing reliance on unhealthy energy sources over time.
Government Interventions & Policies Supporting LPG Use
Early LPG Promotion Programme (1989 onwards)
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy launched an LPG promotion initiative in 1989 to curb deforestation and encourage cleaner cooking. It saw rapid expansion in cylinder manufacture and distribution, with consumption rising from 5,267 tonnes in 1989 to 32,000 tonnes by 1996. Local cylinder production increased availability and affordability, while partnerships with private sector entities to set up LPG refill stations enabled distribution networks.10
Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) & Open Tender Imports
More recently, Ghana implemented the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM). This model was launched after many years of government research into a more safe and efficient LPG retail and use. The CRM standardizes cylinders and allows users to swap empty cylinder for filled units. To support CRM’s affordability objectives, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) launched open competitive tenders for bulk LPG imports in early 2024 (NPA) slashing premiums from up to USD 98/MT to around USD 30/MT.11 This move is intended to bring prices down, making LPG more cost competitive versus charcoal.
Rural LPG Promotion Programme
Despite urban uptake, rural LPG use remained under 3 % as of 2012.12 In response, in 2013 the government launched the Rural LPG Programme, distributing 50,000 free cylinders, stoves, and accessories to households in low‑income and remote communities.13 Coordination with district assembly offices helped reach beneficiaries and drive LPG trial and adoption. The cost of tradiional LPG refill stations decreased its establishmnet in rural areas but with the help of the Cylinder Recirculation model, companies such as Good gas Resources Company Limited is maximixing LPG availability if many Rural areas.
Policy Recommendations: Tax Removal & Subsidy Reform
Advocacy groups have urged the government to remove all taxes on LPG to restore affordability—citing that LPG, once priced similarly to charcoal, has become almost twice as expensive by 2015–2020. Research also emphasises that high LPG costs—often 1.8 to 2.7 times those of charcoal, hinder affordability, even in some urban communities, especially in low‑income and female‑headed households.
Controlled trials, such as the ELAG (Enhancing LPG Adoption in Ghana) study which tested two key strategies:
The combined intervention arm (education + delivery) led to sustained LPG use, even when subsequent refills were paid for by the user. This underscores that both awareness and reliable access are necessary for long‑term fuel switching.
In Summary: Path Forward for Ghana
By scaling these integrated efforts, Ghana can move toward its goal of 50 % household LPG access by 2030, reduce reliance on charcoal, cut preventable disease, empower women, and preserve its forests—all while promoting cleaner and more affordable cooking for all.
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