Member of Parliament for Tano South Constituency, Charles Asiedu, has called for urgent national action to revitalise the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited, warning that the company’s decline could undermine Ghana’s efforts to expand clean cooking solutions.
The company, he said, is a critical state-owned enterprise responsible for producing and distributing safe and affordable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and accessories for both domestic use and export.
“There is an urgent need to revitalise the company Limited,” he told the House, stressing that the firm plays a central role in Ghana’s LPG promotion agenda.
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Delivering a statement in Parliament on Thursday, the Energy Committee member argued that LPG usage remains a key pillar of Ghana’s strategy to protect the environment and reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal.
He explained that increased LPG adoption helps preserve forest reserves, improve indoor air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Promoting the use of LPG is a key component of Ghana’s strategy for environmental protection, sustainable energy use and climate change mitigation,” Asiedu stated.
LPG currently serves as the primary cooking fuel for about 40 percent of Ghana’s population. The country has also set a national target of achieving 50 percent LPG penetration by 2030.
The lawmaker noted that the global transition toward cleaner cooking fuels is accelerating. Citing figures from the Clean Cooking Alliance, he said access to clean cooking solutions worldwide has improved from about 60 percent in 2010 to nearly 75 percent by 2024.
Despite the progress, more than two billion people still rely on smoky and inefficient fuels for cooking.
“Ghana cannot afford to fall behind in this global shift,” he cautioned, adding that LPG usage in rural Ghana stood at only 17 percent of total cooking fuel consumption in 2023.
Despite its strategic importance, the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company has struggled with operational and financial challenges in recent years.
The MP cited findings from the Auditor-General’s report indicating that the company recorded a loss of about GH¢4 million in 2021.
In 2023, the company was acquired by Ghana National Gas Company as part of efforts to rescue it from operational collapse.
While welcoming the intervention, Asiedu stressed the need for a broader national recovery plan to fully restore the company’s viability.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, which recently announced the formation of a Joint Project Implementation Committee to oversee a revitalisation strategy.
The Tano South MP proposed several policy actions to strengthen the company’s operations and expand LPG access nationwide.
Among his recommendations is a targeted capital injection by the state to modernise production lines and improve quality control processes.
“The state must inject targeted capital to upgrade production lines and introduce modern fabrication technologies,” he said.
He also proposed partnerships with private investors and LPG marketing companies to improve efficiency and boost innovation in the sector.
Hon. Asiedu also urged government institutions to prioritise the procurement of LPG cylinders and accessories from the company to stimulate demand.
The MP further called for the company to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand into regional markets where demand for clean cooking solutions is growing.
Public education campaigns on the health and environmental benefits of LPG usage were also identified as essential for sustaining the company’s operations.