Energy efficient cooking stoves for three communities
Three resettlement mining communities in the Asutifi North District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ntotroso, Kenyasi No 1 and Kenyasi No 2, have been presented with 400 quality energy efficient cooking stoves to help reduce indoor air pollution (IAP) facing those areas.
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Vivo Energy Ghana, formerly Shell Ghana, in partnership with Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), which is operating the Ahafo Mine at Asutifi , made the presentation under a project dubbed, ‘‘Breathing Space Project,’’ aimed at enhancing livelihood and contributing to the reduction in carbon footprints.
The efficient clean burning stoves reduce charcoal use in cooking by 60 per cent, thereby contributing to minimising the problem of deforestation.
It also promotes efficient combustion and significantly impacts the environment positively with 65 per cent reduction of carbon monoxide emissions, 80 per cent reduction of smoke and toxic emissions as well as 40 per cent reduction of black carbon emissions.
Under another project called ‘‘Energy for Education Project,’’ the two companies have donated 200 solar lamps to schoolchildren in the three Newmont’s host mining communities to enhance their studies at night.
Making the presentation at Ntotroso, Mr Augustine Osei-Bonsu, a Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, disclosed that research indicated that, globally, smoke from traditional cooking stoves caused more than four million deaths a year and that women and children who often worked at home around fire were at the greatest risk.
He further indicated that in 2007, the Shell foundation and Envirofit International, partnered to launch a worldwide clean technology cooking stoves business to minimise emissions of smoke and harmful chemicals that led to disease and death.
Mr Osei-Bonsu said beyond the direct health and economic benefit, women and their children would now spend less time looking for firewood, so that the women could spend quality time with their children to ensure that they did their homework from school, and also foster proper upbringing.
In a speech read on his behalf, the External Affairs Manager of NGGL, Ahafo Mine, Mr Kojo Bedu-Addo, said the laudable project by Vivo was in line with Newmont’s adherence to best practices in environmental management.
By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah/Daily Graphic/Ghana