Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Oil Marketing Companies to embark on an intensive public education campaign to sensitise Ghanaians on the proper way to handle liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

He said since LPG would soon be the major domestic fuel for Ghanaians as work on the West Africa Gas Pipeline neared completion, there was the need for a sensitisation programme on the safe use of the product. President Kufuor said this when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah presented a report on the recent gas explosion at Asokwa in Kumasi.

A statement signed by Mt Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman, said a major gas explosion occurred on September 21, killing three people and injuring more that 200 and destroying 115 houses.

Subsequently, a Committee of enquiry was set up to investigate the cause. The Committee was made up of representatives of the Ghana National Fire Service and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Presenting the report, the Regional Minister said though the incident could be attributed to negligence on the part of the handlers, the Government should consider coming going to the aid of the victims. He said at the moment the cost of damage was estimated at 1.2 billion cedis.

Mr Owusu-Ansah called for the establishment of the National Petroleum Authority offices in all the regional capitals to monitor the operations of gas stations to forestall recurrence. 10 Oct. 07