We exist to educate the Ghanaian community, especially the rural folk on the need to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as it affords a long-term benefit to health, money, time and resources. In order to create incentive for this project, we seek support from voluntary donors to undertake the "Buy a Gas Cylinder for a Poor Community Folk" Project. We have also arranged with gas filling stations to give these poor folk discounted rates at the expense of the organization. So far the scheme is working very well and people in the rural areas are excited about it. We have other projects in the pipeline to ensure sustainability.
Contact Information
Our Focus
The main intervention underway is the "Buy an LPG Cylinder for a Poor Community Folk" Project, as well as the discounted gas filling motivation. The target group is basically those living in the rural areas of the country. In these areas there are a lot of trees that are being deforested for the generation of energy. This intervention, coupled with mass education and a campaign for behavioral change, has resulted in a reduction in deforestation.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
In Ghana, those in the rural areas consider these sources of fuel traditional and have no idea of the health implications. They attribute premature death to the work of a certain devil. We try to overcome these beliefs through public education forum on the health benefits of clean indoor air. We also demystify the belief about premature death using the lifespan of Asians, Americans and Europeans as a case study.
In order to ensure sustainability and continued access to LPG, we have plans to consult the local council to set up an LPG filling station with support from contributions from high income earners surrounding these villages, external support, and a small levy. This goes into funding the discount scheme that they will enjoy. The LPG filling stations will also create jobs for the rural youth. A village van will also be purchased to go around collecting the cylinders, filling and re-distributing them to various households.
Since most of the rural folks have temporary structures or are yet to build, standard operating procedure for the use of LPG cylinders will be discussed with the town and country planning to ensure that new buildings have plans for the incorporation of well-ventilated areas for LPG usage. Existing structures will be suitably compensated with an open-air cabinet within which to use the cylinder.
Teachers and some educated community youth will be empowered to go around to inspect compliance to standards, and bring back appropriate findings about what interventions need to be made. This research and follow up will be done routinely.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
Since my organization is the first in my country (Ghana) to undertake these activities, we would like to serve as a springboard for PCIA to pilot some projects in selected communities in the country for adoption by the whole nation subsequently. In Ghana, projects that are started at the community level function better and produce a good ripple effect to the local, district, regional and national levels.
