The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has highlighted that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is the safest and healthier source of fuel compared to the use of charcoal and firewood.
The NPA Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Mohammed Abdul Kudus, says the LPG commodity has been identified to be more safer, cleaner, and faster in preparing food.
“Research has indicated that a lot of diseases are associated with the use of it [charcoal and fire word] because of the fumes we regularly breath as a result of using it, that is one. Two, there is a common saying that when the last tree dies, the last man dies; because there is a relationship between the plant and the animal life and we ought to conserve our forest and not to allow the regular felling of trees for purposes of our cooking” he emphasized.
Speaking in an interview with Journalists in Tamale on Thursday (March 2, 2023) on the sidelines of a sensitization exercise in collaboration with the Lyme Haus, an Integrated Marketing Communication Agency, and the Ghana National Fire Service in the northern region, Abdul Kudus, indicated it has become critical to reorient the mindset of the people to change to the use of LPG as the best alternative source of fuel compared to firewood and charcoal.
“The essence of this exercise is to educate and sensitize LPG users on a safer way of using of it, so that we’re able to minimize the associated accidents and we, together with Lyme Haus, which is a private organization supported by Ghana National Fire Service are going round the country sensitizing the people and helping them to understand how to safely use the LPG to avoid unnecessary accidents in their kitchens.”
He continued, “Like I said, it’s a nationwide exercise but we have decided to zoom on eight out of sixteen regions. The eight are regions that have been identified as having low penetration and for that matter there’s the need for us to take the communication, the sensitization and education to them so that we would be able to whip their enthusiasm and get them to move from the use of charcoal and firewood to LPG as a source of fuel.”
The intervention by the National Petroleum Authority and its partners is in line with the UN sustainable development goal seven which promotes the access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
The Consumer Services Manager of NPA, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, on her part also explained that it was important for consumers of petroleum products such as LPG to be conscious of their safety.
She cautioned the public against placing Liquified Petroleum Gas cylinders near naked fire or inflammable liquid, stressing such an act could cause fire outbreaks leading to loss of lives and property.
Mrs. Nyarko further underscored the need for users of petroleum products to observe all the requisite safety protocols emphasizing flouting the regulations has the is a recipe for fire outbreaks at home and in the work places.
The Northern Region Public Relations Officer of Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Divisional Officer (ADOII) Baba Hudu, underscored the importance of the liquefied petroleum gas but however pointed out that if it is used properly, it poses serious hazards and threat to the environment and human life.
“So, we were happy to see the people also respond and ask questions to clarify whatever misconception they had about the use of LPG.”
ADOII Baba Hudu encouraged the public to always ensure when carrying their LPG from the filling point to their destination, the cylinder is not placed in a horizontal position but upright to ensure when there is a leakage, the gas will evaporate into the air without posing any danger to anyone.
Meanwhile, the NPA and its stakeholders had earlier organized similar engagements with traders, market women, drivers and students in the Savelugu and Gushegu municipalities as well as the Kumbungu district in the Northern Region.
