Accra: The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intensified its nationwide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Campaign, extending the sensitization programme to universities and other tertiary institutions across the country.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative, spearheaded by the Authority's Consumer Services Directorate in collaboration with the Corporate Affairs and Gas Directorates, forms part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to promote the safe and efficient use of LPG. This comes in the light of recent gas-related incidents in some institutions, including the explosion at the University of Development Studies (UDS) - Nyankpala Campus involving two students.
As part of this national sensitization drive, a team from the NPA, led by Mrs. Eunice Nyarko, Acting Director of Consumer Services, visited the Northern and Upper East Regions to engage students of tertiary institutions and traders in some major markets. The focus was on the health, safety, and environmental benefits of LPG within a secure and well-regulated environment.
The sessions included interactive demonstrations, open forums, and the distribution of educational materials to deepen awareness of safe LPG use. The team, which comprised a Supervisor at the Gas Directorate, Mr. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, along with officials from the Consumer Services and Corporate Affairs Directorates and representatives from the respective Regional Offices, visited the UDS-Dungu and Nyankpala Campuses and the Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Northern Region.
In the Upper East Region, the team interacted with students of the Bolgatanga and Zuarungu Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges and traders at the Bolgatanga main market among others. Delivering a presentation on LPG Safety Tips, Mr. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr conducted practical demonstrations on how to safely install, handle, and maintain LPG cylinders and accessories. He emphasized the importance of regular cylinder inspection, proper ventilation, and prompt response to gas leaks.
Mr. Gbagbo enlightened the students on the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), a key national policy aimed at ensuring safety in LPG distribution. He encouraged them to advocate for safe LPG practices both on campus and within their communities.
In her remarks, Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko underscored the health and environmental benefits of LPG over traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. She cautioned that prolonged exposure to smoke from these fuels contributed significantly to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, while LPG offered a cleaner and safer alternative that aligned with the Authority's sustainability and public health objectives.
The Regional Managers and their representatives also sensitized participants on the broader regulatory functions of the Authority, including the siting and licensing of fuel stations. They assured students and the public that the NPA remained committed to maintaining safety standards across the downstream petroleum sector and operated an open-door policy to receive and address consumer concerns.
