Ghana’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption is gradually increasing, reflecting a shift towards cleaner cooking solutions.
However, while demand is rising, major gaps remain in accessibility, affordability, and supply stability, threatening to slow down the country’s clean energy transition.
Data from 2022 to 2024 shows a slow but steady increase in LPG usage, yet the growth is not significant enough to indicate a major transformation in the energy landscape.
In January 2022, total LPG consumption stood at 27,181 metric tonnes. By January 2023, consumption dropped to 25,857 metric tonnes, before rising again in January 2024 to 28,306 metric tonnes.
While this suggests a gradual increase in LPG adoption, the numbers reveal a major gap between demand and the government’s target of 50% LPG penetration by 2030.
LPG consumption remains stagnant in the 25,000–30,000 metric tonnes range per month, raising concerns about whether the shift away from charcoal and firewood is happening fast enough.
Despite the push for LPG usage, supply inconsistencies, and affordability issues continue to slow progress. In September 2024, parts of Accra experienced severe LPG shortages, forcing some gas stations to suspend operations.
This exposed major vulnerabilities in Ghana’s LPG distribution system, as retailers struggled to secure consistent supply despite reassurances from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The supply crunch highlights the fragility of Ghana’s LPG market, where global price fluctuations, infrastructure constraints, and import dependency all contribute to unpredictable availability. While the NPA has assured Ghanaians that stocks remain stable, the reality on the ground suggests that many consumers still struggle with access.
Investments in Infrastructure
Ghana is making some efforts to expand LPG infrastructure to meet growing demand. In 2024, Arch Holdings partnered with MAKEEN Energy to establish one of the country’s most advanced LPG filling plants in Tema, designed to fill 2,800 cylinders per hour. This project aims to modernize Ghana’s aging LPG infrastructure and improve distribution efficiency.
Additionally, Ghana’s Parliament approved a $250 million loan from the World Bank’s International Development Association to support the Energy Sector Recovery Programme. This funding is expected to help improve LPG accessibility, reduce energy costs, and strengthen distribution networks.
However, while infrastructure expansion is promising, it does not immediately solve issues of affordability and consumer adoption. Many Ghanaians still find LPG expensive compared to charcoal and firewood, which remain the default cooking fuels in many rural and low-income households.
Unless these challenges are addressed, the country risks falling short of its clean cooking targets, leaving millions of Ghanaians dependent on polluting, inefficient fuel sources.
