The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has launched a two-day National Clean Cooking Policy and Strategy Workshop, bringing together policy experts, industry leaders, and development partners to advance clean cooking solutions in Ghana.
This initiative marks a significant step toward addressing public health risks and environmental degradation caused by traditional cooking methods.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, highlighted the critical challenges associated with household cooking in Ghana.
He noted that nearly 60% of the population still relies on traditional solid fuels like charcoal and firewood, contributing to severe health and environmental consequences.
“The reliance on solid fuels results in approximately 6,500 deaths annually due to household air pollution, with children under five disproportionately affected,” the Minister stated.
He further underscored the socio-economic burden of inefficient cooking methods, particularly on women and children, who face the challenges of fuel collection and exposure to harmful smoke.
To combat these issues, the Ministry unveiled the proposed National Clean Cooking Policy (NCCP), which aims to create a structured framework for adopting clean cooking technologies. The policy promotes a diversified energy mix, including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), electric stoves, biogas, and improved biomass cookstoves.
“The NCCP will introduce regulatory and fiscal incentives to drive investment in the clean cooking sector while supporting local industry development to make clean cooking technologies more accessible and affordable,” Hon. Jinapor explained. He also emphasized the importance of public awareness campaigns to drive behavioral change toward cleaner cooking solutions.
Additionally, the Minister announced that the National Clean Cooking Strategy (NCCS) and an accompanying Investment Prospectus (IP) are being revised to provide a detailed roadmap for implementation. These documents will define stakeholder roles, outline financial resource requirements, and facilitate large-scale adoption of clean cooking technologies.
Hon. Jinapor called on workshop participants to engage in meaningful discussions and propose innovative solutions to transition Ghana from policy development to practical implementation. “Achieving universal access to clean cooking requires a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach. This is not the responsibility of the government alone,” he stressed.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Wilhelmina Asamoah (Mrs.), echoed this sentiment while welcoming participants. She emphasized the importance of inclusiveness in crafting solutions that align with local realities.
“This workshop provides a platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and strategic collaboration over the next two days,” Mrs. Asamoah said. She added that this engagement is the first of three planned regional workshops aimed at gathering insights from stakeholders across Ghana’s southern, middle, and northern regions.
She encouraged participants to contribute to meaningful discussions and innovative ideas that would shape Ghana’s clean cooking future. Expressing gratitude to the World Bank for its continuous support, she acknowledged the institution’s critical role in advancing essential policy initiatives in Ghana’s clean cooking sector.
As the workshop progresses, stakeholders aim to solidify strategies that will not only improve public health but also support environmental conservation and economic development.
