In a recent report from the Ghana 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, it was revealed that a staggering 76.4% of the population lacks access to clean fuels and technologies for essential household activities such as cooking, space heating, and lighting.
These findings highlight a critical gap in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
The survey underscores a stark reality where three out of every four individuals (77.3%) in Ghana do not primarily rely on clean fuels and technologies for cooking. This includes stoves and cookers powered by electricity, LPG, natural gas, biogas, solar, alcohol, or ethanol. Particularly alarming is the observation that this lack of primary reliance on clean cooking methods is 1.5 times higher in rural areas (63.0%) compared to urban settings (92.8%).
Regional disparities further compound the issue, with the Greater Accra region standing out as the only area where less than half of the population (43.2%) lacks primary reliance on clean cooking fuels and technologies. In contrast, the Savannah Region (98.6%) takes the lead in having the highest percentage of individuals who do not primarily rely on clean cooking methods, followed closely by the North East (98.0%) and Upper West (96.7%) regions.
The economic divide also plays a significant role, as persons in the highest wealth quintile exhibit the lowest percentage (21.7%) without primary reliance on clean cooking methods. This is in stark contrast to those in the fourth wealth quintile (71.5%), revealing a significant disparity in access across different economic strata.
However, the report brings a glimmer of hope regarding lighting solutions, as it indicates that primary reliance on clean fuels and technologies for lighting is nearly universal (99.3%). This trend is consistent across rural and urban areas, with minimal variation.
Nevertheless, these findings highlight an urgent need for targeted interventions to address the widespread lack of access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in Ghana.
The disparities in rural and urban areas, regional variations, and economic inequalities underscore the importance of a comprehensive strategy to ensure a more equitable distribution of clean energy resources.
As the nation commemorates the International Day of Clean Energy on January 26th, the call for increased awareness and concerted efforts towards achieving sustainable energy for all has never been more pressing.
