The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intensified its nationwide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Safety Campaign, extending sensitisation programmes to universities and other tertiary institutions across the country.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Authority’s Consumer Services Directorate in collaboration with the Corporate Affairs and Gas Directorates, forms part of ongoing efforts to promote the safe and efficient use of LPG, especially in light of recent gas-related incidents recorded in some institutions — including the unfortunate explosion at the UDS–Nyankpala Campus involving two students.

As part of the national sensitisation drive, a team from the NPA, led by the Ag. Director of Consumer Services, Mrs Eunice Budu Nyarko, visited the Northern and Upper East Regions, engaging students of tertiary institutions and traders in major markets on the health, safety, and environmental benefits of adopting LPG within a secure and well-regulated environment.

The sessions featured interactive demonstrations, open fora, and the distribution of educational materials to deepen awareness on safe LPG use.

The delegation, which included Mr Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, Supervisor at the Gas Directorate; officials from the Consumer Services and Corporate Affairs Directorates; and representatives from the Regional Offices, visited the University for Development Studies (UDS – Dungu and Nyankpala Campuses) and the Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Northern Region. In the Upper East Region, the team interacted with students of the Bolgatanga and Zuarungu Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges as well as traders at the Bolgatanga Main Market.

Delivering a presentation on LPG Safety Tips, Mr Gbagbo Jnr conducted practical demonstrations on how to safely install, handle, and maintain LPG cylinders and accessories. He emphasised the need for regular cylinder inspection, proper ventilation, and prompt response to gas leaks.

He also enlightened students on the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) — a key national policy aimed at ensuring safety in LPG distribution — and encouraged them to become advocates of safe LPG practices both on campus and within their communities.

In her remarks, Mrs Eunice Budu Nyarko highlighted the health and environmental benefits of LPG over traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal. She cautioned that prolonged exposure to smoke from such fuels contributes significantly to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, while LPG provides a cleaner and safer alternative that aligns with the Authority’s sustainability and public health goals.

Regional Managers and their representatives who accompanied the delegation also sensitised participants on the broader regulatory functions of the NPA, including the siting and licensing of fuel stations.

They assured students and the general public that the Authority remains committed to maintaining high safety standards across the downstream petroleum sector and operates an open-door policy to receive and address consumer concerns.