The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has disclosed measures the Authority will follow to eradicate energy poverty.
In achieving this, Abdul-Hamid disclosed that the NPA would engage Cabinet to remove some taxes on LPG to make it more accessible and affordable to Ghanaians, especially the poor.
Abdul-Hamid gave the assurance that he would make a case for tax exemptions for some time for investors who would be establishing cylinder bottling plants in the north for them to have maximum return on their investments.
He said the launch of the LPG campaign was to make LPG affordable, available and accessible to the Ghanaian people.
“We understand that, perhaps, the majority of the Ghanaian people are poor and most people cannot afford to buy cylinders and gas. So we, at NPA, in collaboration with our sector ministry, are trying very hard to make it easy for people to access LPG,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of an awareness and sensitisation campaign on Tuesday December 6, 2022.
The campaign is to promote the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The Authority therefore seek to discourage the use of wood fuel – firewood and charcoal – and increase the LPG penetration for domestic, commercial and industrial activities from the current 37 percent to 50 percent by 2030.
Blessing the campaign was the presence of the wife of the vice-president, Hajia Samira Bawumia.
She urged the public, especially women, to adopt LPG as it is a cleaner, safer and healthier cooking fuel.
Hajia Samira expressed joy that the NPA was promoting the use of LPG for cooking to ensure the attainment of government’s goal to increase LPG usage to 50 percent by 2030.
“Estimates indicate that cooking with LPG saves about four (4) productive hours daily. These extra hours gained daily can be used in productive areas like education, agriculture, and other income-generating activities.
“By increasing access and use of LPG, we have an unprecedented opportunity to not only deliver significantly on gender equity, but also improve health, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and enhance livelihoods; all-in-one goal”, she said.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr. Owuraku Aidoo, during his address agreed to the risks and health effects of the climate change pledging that his outfits will support such educative course lead by any institution.
“My ministry is ready to support the NPA and other allied institutions to stem this tide for our collective good,” Owuraku Aidoo said.
