Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer has said the government intends to fit Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cooking systems in over 1,000 public institutions, especially high schools, colleges, prisons and clinics.

According to the Sekondi Member of Parliament, the government shall also facilitate the provision of access to about 20,000 commercial caterers, including service providers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

Speaking at a virtual dialogue on Clean Cooking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of his boss Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Mr Mercer said these efforts are under the aegis of the ‘LPG for Development Programme’.

“Implementing the LPG4D will lead to 10-14 million more people using LPG, about 12,000 to 19,000 lives saved, prevention of cumulative deforestation of 127 million to 221 million trees, reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 9.2 million metric tonnes and reduction of Black Carbon equivalent emissions by 16.63 million metric tonnes together with the economic value of $ 47.74 million,” he said.

He continued that “the overall economic benefit of LPG for Development Programme would be immense and the government would have achieved its goal of 50% access to LPG by the year 2030 and by so doing, take a giant step in the transition to clean energy in Ghana”.

Mr Mercer indicated Ghana’s acceptance of the call to action on clean cooking for all and said clean cooking will be a priority in the country’s national planning.

“We seek the support of member states in achieving these ambitious declarations,” he added.