SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY USAGE UNDER THE GHANA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM IN THE WA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Access to a safe and sustainable modern energy services is an enormous challenge facing Sub- Saharan Africa. Dependence on biomass poses negative effects on users health and on the environment, and it also holds back economic growth, as collecting and cooking with these fuels is demanding and time-consuming. Governments around the world are making efforts in helping nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of which energy is an important aspect of its goals. This research aims to investigate and understand how the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) can promote a safe and sustainable energy use in the Wa Municipality. The mixed method design with focus on the sequential exploratory research design was employed in this research. This research was conducted in 101 schools in all the 14 circuits under the Wa Municipal Education Directorate. This research was grounded on the Energy Ladder and Multiple Fuel Energy theories. The research results indicate that, majority of schools that were sampled do not have access to electricity. The research also revealed that there was no recommended form of cooking fuel under the Ghana School Feeding Program in the Wa Municipality. All the 101 schools that were sampled for this study used firewood as their main source of fuel for cooking under the GSFP. Other schools blend charcoal with firewood for cooking purposes. The research further revealed that, the use of firewood in the municipality has caused deforestation to the environment, burns and eye inflammation among others to caterers/cooks. It was therefore recommended that users of firewood should be educated on the impacts of firewood on the environment. Distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders should be extended to caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Program in the Wa Municipality.