Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano South and member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Charles Asiedu, has called for an urgent, coordinated national effort to revitalise the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMC), arguing the state-owned company is central to accelerating Ghana’s clean cooking agenda and supporting local industry.

In a statement delivered to Parliament, Charles Asiedu outlined the strategic role GCMC plays in producing and distributing safe, affordable LPG cylinders, cookware and related accessories for domestic use and export.

He said strengthening GCMC is critical to reducing household reliance on firewood and charcoal, protecting forest reserves, improving indoor air quality and meeting Ghana’s climate commitments.

“Revitalising the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company is not just about rescuing an ailing firm, it is about securing our clean energy future and protecting public health,” Asiedu told the House.

Asiedu reminded MPs that while LPG is already the primary cooking fuel for roughly 40% of Ghanaians, the country has set an ambition to reach 50% LPG penetration by 2030, a target that will require a resilient local supply chain and expanded access, particularly in rural areas where LPG use remains low.

The MP also reviewed recent challenges at the company: losses recorded in 2021, a restructuring step in 2023 when Ghana Gas Company Limited acquired GCMC to stem operational collapse, and continuing need for a broader recovery plan beyond the acquisition.

He said the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition’s Joint Project Implementation Committee is a welcome start, but further interventions are required.

Asiedu proposed a multi-pronged revitalisation roadmap;

1. Targeted state capital injections to modernise production lines.

2. Strategic private sector partnerships and joint ventures with LPG marketers.

3. Government procurement policies that prioritise locally manufactured cylinders and accessories.

4. Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand into neighbouring markets.

5. Sustained public sensitisation on LPG benefits.

6. Stronger performance-based accountability in state-owned enterprises.

“These measures will not only revive an important industrial asset, they will create jobs, boost local manufacturing and help push Ghana toward its 2030 clean-cooking goals,” he said.

Asiedu further pointed to the broader climate and health benefits of accelerating clean cooking. Citing global figures, he noted that universal access to clean cooking could cut global emissions by about 1.5 gigatons by 2030, an opportunity for Ghana to lead regionally on climate-smart energy solutions.

The MP urged Parliament, the executive and private stakeholders to treat GCMC’s revival with urgency.