The Ministry of Energy (MoE) yesterday distribut­ed 700 locally-man­ufactured cooking stoves to women at James Town to promote cleaner cooking practices, and reduce the health risks associated with the use of firewood and charcoal.

The move complements the gov­ernment's efforts to raise awareness of the Cylinder Recirculation Mod­el (CRM) and the health and safety benefits of using LPG.

Speaking at the 2024 Community Outreach programme organised by the Ministry of Energy and Women in Energy, the Sector Minister, Herbert Krapa, said it was an efforts to roll out the CRM and increase access to Liquefied Petro­leum Gas (LPG) for households across the country.

The theme for this year event is 'Spark a change, not a flame; ignite a gender, healthier cooking future.' The event featured health screenings and a demonstration by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on how to properly use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire. "Through this initiative, we aim to reduce the use of harmful cooking fuels like firewood and charcoal, which pose serious health risks, especially to women and children who spend long hours cooking," the Minister said.