Consumers have been cautioned not to keep their LPG cylinders indoors, as the practice is extremely dangerous in case of leakage. The naked eye cannot see gas; hence, there is a need to keep cylinders outside to avert fire outbreaks.

The Head of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Eunice Budu Nyarko, cautioned the public during interactions with traders, market women, artisans, hawkers, and others, on LPG safety awareness and sensitisation in some major communities in the Eastern Region.

She observed that some people did not want to keep their cylinders outside because of the fear that they would be stolen.

She urged that, “If you have cylinders in any enclosed place, ensure it is in the open and take steps to protect it to avoid it being stolen,” stressing that it was important for consumers of petroleum products such as LPG to be conscious of their safety.

These engagements, which took place in communities such as Nsawam, Suhum, Adawso, Akateng, Koforidua, and its environs, featured interactive sessions, presentations, and the distribution of educational materials on LPG safety.

This culminated in a grand durbar at the Suhum Lorry Station and a Town Hall meeting in Koforidua, where stakeholders emphasised the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

For his part, a Supervisor with the Gas Directorate at the NPA, Johnson Gbagbo Jnr., addressing stakeholders at the durbar and town hall, urged the public to switch from the use of charcoal and firewood to gas to protect their health and save the environment.

He added that smoke from charcoal fires affected the eyes and lungs of women and children who stay around their mothers while cooking.

He said the introduction of the cylinder recirculation model (CRM) was to ensure safe LPG distribution and its use, and also encourage more people to use LPG.

He explained further that the CRM programme allows people to exchange their old cylinders for new ones, and they would only pay for the filled gas.

Mr Gbagbo Jnr. further educated participants on essential LPG safety measures and addressed concerns raised by individuals hesitant to transition to LPG usage. He assured them of the safety and efficiency of LPG when handled properly.

Mr Gbagbo Jnr. said the CRM had already commenced in parts of Accra and Kumasi and will soon be extended to other regions. He added that the NPA is actively inspecting designated sites in Koforidua and nearby towns for the establishment of Cylinder Exchange Points (CEPs) and Cylinder Distribution Outlets (CDOs).

Moreover, he urged entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity presented by the CRM initiative by setting up CEPs and CDOs, ensuring compliance with NPA’s licensing and permitting requirements.

The Suhum Fire Safety Officer, ADOI Bruce Kwame, who led a demonstration on firefighting drills, urged the people to observe LPG safety tips such as ensuring adequate ventilation for cylinders, lighting a match before turning on the gas, and avoiding placing filled or empty cylinders near a naked flame or inflammable liquids.

In his remarks, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Service Authority, Mr Benjamin Oduro Asante, who chaired the durbar, lauded the NPA for the sensitisation campaign as it would ensure safety in the use of gas in homes.

The durbars were part of an extensive LPG awareness campaign embarked upon by the NPA in collaboration with the Oil Sustainability Programme (OSP) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, and Digicraft Advertising.

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