UEW Researcher secures $49,791 grant with others to enhance LPG usage in Ghana

In a remarkable collaboration, Dr. Isaac Doku, a researcher at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana, and the principal investigator of a research project, has achieved a major milestone by winning a grant award.

His project, titled “Will Environmental, Health, and Safety Sensitization Improve the Usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)? A Lens on Cooking Stove Distribution Model in Ghana,” has been awarded a $49,791 grant.

The grant was secured in partnership with his dedicated team of co-investigators, including Prof. Hamdiya Alhassan from the University of Development Studies, Ghana; Dr. Mujtaba Nuhu Mohammed from Kintampo Health Research, Ghana; and Genesis Bhenda Kollie from the University of Liberia.

Their study focuses on evaluating and enhancing the utilization of LPG cookstoves distributed under Ghana’s National LPG Promotion Policy.

This endeavor holds great promise in providing practical and policy-relevant guidance for more effective distribution and increased adoption of cleaner cooking technologies, a crucial step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7) – ensuring affordable, sustainable, and modern energy access for all by 2030.

The crux of this research project resides in the stark reality that a global population of 2.4 billion individuals persists in their dependence upon ineffectual and environmentally detrimental cooking methodologies.

This dilemma is further pronounced in the Ghanaian context, as approximately 80% of households rely on wood as their principal cooking fuel source, manifesting both adverse environmental repercussions, notably deforestation, and dire public health consequences.

In contrast, merely 23.6% have embraced cleaner alternatives such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and electricity.

The underlying dearth of cognizance concerning the harmful ecological and health-related implications of wood fuel serves to compound the challenge at hand.

Ghana’s National LPG Promotion Policy has set the stage for change, aiming to increase access to LPG. However, the team recognized a critical impediment to success – the asynchronous implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model and cookstove distribution.

With their grant in hand and a shared vision, Dr. Doku and his team are determined to address this challenge and pave the way for a more sustainable and healthier future, not just for Ghana but as an inspiring example for regions grappling with similar issues.

Their story is a testament to the power of collaboration and determination in the pursuit of positive change.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh