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…Cites asthma, low birth weight
Traders, especially market women, have been advised not to let their children stay near woodfuel fires and coal pots while cooking.
The Head of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Eunice Budu Nyarko, advised traders, hawkers, and market women during an engagement at the Ejisu and Kejetia markets in the Ashanti Region.
She noted that studies have shown such practices could worsen underlying health conditions such as asthma, leading to respiratory tract infections, reduced lung function, and even heart failure.
Prolonged exposure to smoke from charcoal and firewood, she added, could also increase the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality.
As part of its efforts to promote safety, the NPA has expanded its LPG safety campaigns to tertiary institutions and colleges of education nationwide.
In the Ashanti Region, training sessions were held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and at Sefwi Wiawso College of Education in the Western North Region.
The initiative aims to instil safe LPG handling habits among young Ghanaians while promoting the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) to enhance safety standards.
During interactive demonstrations, the NPA’s Head of Gas, Commercial Regulation, Obed Kraine Boachie, took students through critical safety protocols, including proper cylinder storage in well-ventilated spaces and secure transportation methods such as keeping cylinders upright to minimise the risk of leaks.
“After transporting a filled LPG cylinder, allow it to sit undisturbed for at least 30 minutes before use to ensure the gas and any liquid components inside stabilise, thereby preventing potential hazards when the cylinder is opened or used,” Mr Boachie advised.
The training placed particular emphasis on emergency response, correcting the dangerous misconception that simply switching off the stove is sufficient in the event of a gas leak.
“Immediately shut the cylinder valve and open all windows to disperse the gas; these quick actions can prevent tragedies,” he stressed.
Participants also learnt to detect leaks using soapy water tests and to identify expired cylinders.
The CRM system was described as a game changer, with Mr Boachie explaining how it shifts the responsibility for cylinder maintenance to certified bottling companies while reducing costs for consumers.
The NPA’s Head of Communications, Racheal Naa Atswei Nee-Okpey, also led a team to several radio stations in the region to complement the exercise, assuring the public of the authority’s commitment to safety and regulatory enforcement.
“The NPA, as the downstream regulator, remains committed to safeguarding the interests of consumers, industry stakeholders, and the public at large,” she said.
The National LPG Safety Awareness Campaign forms part of the NPA’s broader initiative to promote the safe and responsible use of petroleum products and to prevent avoidable accidents in homes, schools, and communities nationwide.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Service was also present to support the exercise.
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