Adoption and Economic Impact of Briquettes as Cooking Fuel: The Case of Women Fish Smokers in Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, much of the population relies on traditional biomass such as firewood and charcoal. Referred to as woodfuel, they are considered the primary source of energy for heating and cooking. In rural Ghana, 73.4% of the households use firewood as the main source of fuel while charcoal is the most common energy source for cooking in urban areas (GSS 2013). The use of firewood is not only limited to rural households as it is also predominant in commercial activities in urban settings. Firewood is used in commercial activities such as smoking fish, bakeries, batik (traditional clothing) making and by street food vendors. A number of negative socio-economic and environmental effects result from the use of woodfuel due to the unsustainable nature of production and use. Deforestation and climate change effects are some examples of the effects on the environment while incomplete combustion and smoke have important health implications for the primary users, who are mainly women and children (UNDP 2014). With projected urban population growth, the use of charcoal for instance will continue to increase as the main source of fuel for cooking among urban households in Ghana. The main reasons for the continued dependence on firewood and charcoal are their affordability, availability and lack of affordable and reliable alternative energy sources. The popularity of charcoal and firewood may also be attributed to their capacity to meet cooking and heating needs as well as local communities’ preferences (Mendum and Njenga 2018)