The Energy Ministry has begun implementing a policy to distribute free gas cylinders to rural dwellers in the country. The policy which was announced Thursday by the sector minister is part of strategy to have the rural dwellers convert wood fuel to gas. But with elections beckoning, critics have been quick to describe the distribution as a vote buying gimmick by the government. In an interview with Joy News the Deputy Energy Minister Inusa Fuseini said government has no such agenda. He said the policy is not to win elections but to modernize the use of energy in the rural areas. He stressed the sector minister has always thought about implementing the policy even when he was working under the former VRA boss, Charles Wereku-Brobby. He said the policy is so crucial in ensuring that rural dwellers have modern forms of energy to use. But the beneficiaries have another hurdle to cross. There is gas shortage across the country, meaning they may have the cylinders but there will not be gas to power the cylinders for their domestic chores, at least for now. Joy News’ Evans Mensah wondered how the Ministry would be distributing free cylinders at a time when there is no gas across the country. The deputy minister Minister acknowledged the acute gas shortage in the country but was quick to add it is only temporary. He said executing the policy of free cylinder distribution and making gas available to Ghanaians are not mutually exclusive, insisting the Ministry is working assiduously to make gas available to all Ghanaians. He said the government has provided two supply points using Takoradi as one of the distribution points.