Experiences with the Mass Distribution of LPG Stoves in Rural Communities of Ghana

Abstract

Household air pollution (HAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. To limit HAP exposure and environmental degradation from biomass fuel use, the Government of Ghana promotes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use in rural Ghana via the Rural LPG program (RLP). We assessed the experiences of the RLP in 2015, 2 years after its launch. A mixed methods approach was used involving Focus Group Discussions (19) and in-depth interviews (25). In addition, a survey questionnaire was administered to elicit socio-demographic characteristics, household cooking practices and stove use patterns of 200 randomly selected respondents. At about 9 months after LPG acquisition, < 5% of LPG beneficiaries used their stoves. Some of the reasons ascribed to the low usage of the LPG cookstoves were financial constraints, distance to LPG filling point and fear of burns. Community members appreciate the convenience of using LPG. Our results underscore a need for innovative funding mechanisms contextualized within an overall economic empowerment of rural folks to encourage sustained LPG use. It emphasizes the need for innovative accessibility interventions. This could include establishing new LPG filling stations in RLP beneficiary districts to overcome the barriers to sustained LPG use.

Keywords: Experiences; Ghana LPG promotion; LPG stoves; Mass distribution; Rural LPG use.

Fig. 1.

Illustration of selection process for LPG distribution.

Fig. 2.

Proportion of self-reported fuel use among 200 LPG beneficiaries over a 9-month period.

Fig. 3.

LPG use assessed by iSUMs at 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 4.

Percentage of participants who refilled their LPG cylinders post the initial required refill.