By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
Efforts to promote the adoption of clean energy sources for cooking in Ghana have encountered both challenges and opportunities.
At a National Stakeholder Policy and Strategy Forum on Clean Cooking in Tamale, the CEO of the Ghana Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and Fuels (GhACCF), Mohammed Aminu Lukmanu, highlighted the country’s progress and challenges in transitioning to cleaner cooking methods. He noted that charcoal remains a widely used energy source, particularly in urban areas, despite its health risks.
Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), he revealed that approximately 28,000 people die annually in Ghana due to indoor air pollution caused by burning firewood and charcoal.
“Charcoal is used more in urban areas, at about 27%, than in rural areas. This is evident in cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, where truckloads of charcoal are transported from regions like Afram Plains, Northern Region, and Kintampo,” Mr. Lukmanu stated.
He attributed the preference for charcoal to its perceived efficiency and lower pollution levels compared to firewood. However, he warned of the severe environmental consequences of charcoal production, particularly in northern Ghana, where the Siena tree is being over-harvested.
“It takes four units of wood to produce one unit of charcoal in the northern sector due to the hardwood. This has led to the depletion of Siena trees, which are being cut down for charcoal production,” he explained.
To mitigate this, Mr. Lukmanu advocated for the use of sustainable feedstock for charcoal production, such as savannah grass, corn harvest waste, and cocoa pods. He also emphasized the need for further research and data collection to better understand the impact of indoor air pollution on public health.
In addition to health risks, he noted that the rising cost of LPG has driven many Ghanaians back to using charcoal and firewood. However, he pointed out that electricity remains a cheaper and cleaner alternative for cooking.
“Cooking with electricity is cheaper than firewood, charcoal, and LPG. With approximately 87% of Ghana having access to electricity, promoting e-cooking or electric cooking is a viable solution,” he asserted.
Stakeholders, including traditional authorities, pledged to use their platforms to educate and sensitize their communities on the benefits of adopting LPG as a cleaner alternative to charcoal. However, they acknowledged that convincing people to switch from charcoal to LPG remains a challenge due to its widespread availability.
To address this, they urged the government to make LPG products more affordable and accessible to the average Ghanaian. They also emphasized the need for more convenient LPG refilling services and a reliable distribution network to support the transition to cleaner cooking fuels.
The National Stakeholder Forum was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
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