Mr Julius Awaregya, Coordinator, Organization for Indigenous Initiatives and Sustainability (ORGIIS) said high cost of improved cooking systems was affecting the rural communities as they could not buy them in conformity with new cooking technologies.

He said the current rate of environmental degradation callede for interventions that promoted healthy cooking system and noted that though the Kassena Nankana Municipality and Kassena West District Assemblies provided profiles on clean cooking, moves should be made to mainstream and support clean cooking systems in communities.

He said supporting households to acquire clean cook stoves would enhance acceptance and usability and address increasing environmental degradation.

Mr Awaregya made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Paga in the Kassena Nankana West District where he noted that the drive will reduce environmental degradation and promote healthy cooking and good health in communities.

To this end, he urged Local government structures to mainstream in their medium term plans for clean cooking to afford households in rural areas to access affordable cooking systems for use in homes.

He said prices of available stoves ranged from GHC 60 and GHC 120, and added that ORGIIS had started collaborations with the Navrongo Research Centre which led to distribution of 500 cook stoves some communities.

He said more communities were being sensitised on the alternative availability of cooking systems such as clean cooking stoves and noted that affordability and accessibility continued to be a challenge for the communities.

He said ORGIIS worked with 378 groups with over 6,000 women which include; Kolgo, Naaga in southern Kayoro, Chana, katiu and Nakong in the west, Mayooro, sirigu and Mirigu in the Eastern area, Paga, Pungu, Kajolo and Gia in the northern part of Kassena Nankana Municipallity and Kassena Nankana West.

He also called for more research to be conducted on available stove sizes and stressed for such technologies to consider larger family sizes in rural communities.

He said ORGIIS had started a programme to identify entrepreneurs and people at gas filling stations who would provide direct delivery to households.

ORGIIS partners with SNV on advocacy actions for government institutions to promote clean cooking in communities at cheaper costs.

The energy component of SNV voice for Change programme focuses on increasing access to affordable efficient and sustainable energy solutions with emphasis on clean cooking and access to off grid electrification.