The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum on Monday distributed 3,000 cylinders with stoves and other accessories to people in the Central Gonja District.

The aim was to promote the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the rural communities in an attempt to stop charcoal burning in the area.

Mr John Jinapor, Deputy Minister of Energy and Petroleum, said the programme was to discourage the use of wood as source of fuel and to eventually eradicate the effect that continuous burning of firewood has on the environment.

The event was on the theme: “Promoting use of LPG as cleaner, healthier and safer fuel for cooking and creating jobs”.

Mr Jinapor said so far, the Ministry had distributed 8,500 pieces of 6Kg LPG cylinders with cooking stoves and accessories free of charge to some people in the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region.

He said 4,000 pieces of 6kg LPG cylinders and cooking stoves were also distributed this year in the Tano-South District in the Brong- Ahafo Region and 3,000 pieces had also been distributed in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District in the Central Region.

Mr Jinakpor said the Ministry and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) were engaging LPG marketing companies and local dealers to facilitate the setting up of mini-refill plants in low access areas.

He said the Ministry was also putting in place measures to ensure that the closest LGP dealers such as Lia Gas and other dealers work with the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company to supply enough LPG cylinders with cooking stoves across the country.

He said the government had sufficient supply of LPG and that with the completion of the gas processing plant at Atuabo, there would be constant flow of LPG in the country.

Mr Jinapor appealed to local dealers and businessmen to take advantage of business opportunities provided by the government to expand the LPG business to areas in the districts to set up mini refill outlets and vending points in very remote rural areas.

Mr Mumuni Shiraz Ibn Yacin, Central Gonja District Chief Executive, advised the beneficiaries desist from the use of firewood and charcoal but should rely more on the LPG cylinders with stoves.

He appealed to the beneficiaries to observe basic safety precautions to ensure optimum safety in their houses.