Despite government’s free distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and stoves to eliminate the practice of burning wood for charcoal in Northern Ghana, the trade has not stopped.
The practice has escalated especially along the Tamale-Yendi road.
The demand of charcoal and firewood has increased because of the high cost of refilling LPG cylinders.
Whereas a bag of charcoal sells between GHC15.00 and GHC18.00, it cost GHC20.00 to refill 6 kilograms of LPG cylinders.
Charcoal and firewood are considered as the cheapest energy supplies used for big events like wedding, outdooring and funerals in Northern Ghana.
Government as part of efforts to discard charcoal burning in Northern Ghana procured already filled 6 kilograms Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders and stoves for free distribution to some selected individuals in the Northern Region.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum started distributing the first consignment of 50.000.
Some residents of Tolon and Central Gonja districts were among the first recipients.
Three thousand pieces were allocated for distribution in the Tolon District.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum, John Abdulai Jinapor supervised the distribution exercise.
At Tolon, John Abdulai Jinapor in a Citi Business News interview cautioned the recipients against selling the items.
He thus tasked District Assemblies of the beneficiary communities to strictly monitor and punish those who will be caught reselling them items.
One month later, Citi Business News found some of the items in the open markets and chop bars in the Tamale Metro Area where operators of the identified chop bars denied buying them.
At the premier private LPG cylinder refilling sales point called BB Gas at SSNIT Flats in Tamale, the Manager told Citi Business News beneficiaries of the freely distributed LPG cylinders were yet to visit there for refilling.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana