Cabinet has given approval for the rollout of the cylinder recirculation model which amongst other benefits aims to cut by half the use of charcoal for domestic activities by the populace.

Initial attempts by the national petroleum authority to introduce the model last year were met with protests and strikes by the association of LGP marketers. They indicated its implementation will lead to job losses.

But a swearing ceremony for the newly constituted governing board of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC), Energy Minister, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, charged the company to ensure scale-up of production of gas cylinders to meet likely demands with the rolling out of the module.

The Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing company was set up to promote the wider usage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a substitute for charcoal and firewood and thereby curtail some of Ghana’s environmental challenges of degradation, deforestation and desertification caused by the use of firewood.

‘Ghana been part of the sustainable development goal and the climate change agenda and there is the need to restore our environment and it is in the light that cabinet has approved the cylinder recirculation module to promote this work and ensure that 50 per cent of the country will use gas instead of charcoal.

We do not want to flood the country with imported cylinders and we believe GCMC has the ability not only to supply cylinders to the country but even export to neighbouring countries,’ he said.

The tussle between the board and management of the Cylinder Manufacturing Company in 2019 led to the dissolution of the board by Finance Minister after their disagreements affected the payment of salary to workers.

The Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh charged the new board to work towards turning the fortunes of the company around.

"I have no doubt that your mandate of ensuring that this important state-owned enterprise is in good standing will be executed in accordance with law, I am aware that in times past, the GCMC has had challenges spanning worker agitation to some management issues.

"I am also aware that efforts have been made collectively to ensure that these issues are put to rest in the greater interest of staff and management to enable the company focus on its mandate.

"I am urging the new Board to provide the necessary direction and leadership so that the negative press that the company has unfortunately had will be wiped away from history," he charged them.

The nine-member board is chaired by Anthony Evans Amoah, the others include the chief executive officer Frances Awurabena Asiam.

The others are Naa Serwaa Owusu, Nana Forson Danso, Adelaide Ntim, Crisler Akwei Ankrah, Bradley Kwaku Poku Amankwah, Christopher Archer and Hannah Ashade