Over 50,000 free cylinders and stoves will be given to some rural communities in parts of the country.
This was revealed by the Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Ohnz25k4fKhX54TbJvcbXY8kWCeWkEMX”]He told the Daily Graphic that the move was part of government’s policy to implement a national liquefied petroleum gas accelerated promotion programme.
“There would be construction of major refilling facilities in strategic areas nationwide for easy access to the gas,”Emmanuel Buah stated.
He pointed out that over the years, rural women had depended on firewood, which had serious environmental and health implications
According to the Minister, his ministry is working effectively to ensure that it improves and increases access to LPG in the rural areas from the current three per cent to more than 15 per cent by the end of 2016.
Mr. Buah disclosed that government is also making a conscious effort to promote adequate local participation and investment in the LPG sub-sector.
Government is also expected to begin establishing special LPG microfinance companies to support small businesses in the LPG distribution and retail network.
“As government, we believe the new model would ensure safety and increase access to LPG to reach the government’s goal of 50 per cent access by the year 2020,” Mr Buah said.
Mr Buah said the move to extend the free facility to the rural areas is also to preserve the environment which is depleting at a very fast rate.
This is not the first time government has declared its intentions of freely distributing 50,000 LPG cylinders and accessories to some selected rural communities.
President John Dramani Mahama in his State of the Nation Address pledged to freely distribte the same amount of LPG cylinders and accessories to some selected rural communities.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana