By Gladys Abakah
Takoradi, Sept. 29 GNA – The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has organised a town hall meeting to sensitize stakeholders and consumers on the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), and the safe use of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Dr. Joseph Wilson, Director Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, NPA, said the Takoradi engagement formed part of a series of education across the country on the safe use of LPG and CRM.
He said the Cylinder Recirculation Model policy sought to have all Ghanaians have access to safe and environmentally friendly LPG cylinders for commercial, industrial and domestic use by 2030.
He indicated that the CRM and regular availability of LPG would ensure equitable distribution of LPG gas in homes.
He said the adoption of LPG in various households was a collective effort and that the NPA had taken the initiative to encourage and educate consumers on the benefits of CRM.
He indicated that it was part of the government’s policy to promote LPG use in the country with the aim of having about 50 per cent penetration of households resorting to the use of LPG.
Dr. Wilson said the feedback from all engagement the Authority had had across the country was positive and that it would continue till all households got access to LPG.
“Our main challenge so far with the LPG is about affordability as many people did not have the means to purchase the gas”, he said.
The Director, however explained that the government had been engaged in considering scrapping taxes on LPG to enable consumers to afford the commodity.
Madam Sandra Aidoo, the Regional Manager NPA, encouraged all stakeholders to embrace the CRM as it would help reduce environmental risks posed by the use of firewood and charcoal.
“Resorting to the use of Liquified Petroleum Gas and Cylinder Recirculation Model will help protect our environment and the future generations” she noted.
The Ghana National Fire Service used the forum to educate and demonstrate to consumers how to manage gas related fires.
The participants the GNA spoke to expressed satisfaction with the initiative and urged all to embrace it to protect the environment.
The forum was attended by the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, Nurses, Teachers, Opinion leaders, clergy, among other stakeholders.
GNA