Viable Alternatives to Unsustainable Household Fuel Supply Sources; the Case of the West Gonja District in Ghana

Donkor, Felix Kwabena

4. Term

Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Master

2013

2013-06-06

56 pages

Cooking is a daily activity often based on energy to satisfy man’s natural urge for nutrition. Wood fuels (charcoal and fuelwood) are the main source of fuel in rural areas of Ghana, however it comes with detrimental health, environmental and other livelihood effects. The study consequently sought to examine how the current heavy dependence on woodfuels can be reversed with cleaner options using local materials. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to undertake the research premised in the West Gonja District of Ghana. The case study approach was complemented with Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques to gather data from key informants, households and group discussion with school kids. Information was fished from literature such as ; Mole National Park Management Plan; The District Assembly Medium Term development Plan of the West Gonja District Assembly; Ghana Country Policy on Energy; Sustainable Energy Action for All Small is Beautiful by Schumacher, Qualitative Research Methods by Kvale and Brinkmann, Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in developing Countries by Frank Ellis. Meaning condensation was used for data analysis within the context of the sustainable livelihood framework and the appropriate technology theory. The use of woodfuels is having a negative impact on critical rural resources such as labour, land, health and education and thus threatening livelihoods in the case study area. There is a high willingness amongst rural households to shift to modern fuels whilst key informants surmise that the current heavy dependence on woodfuels is reversible. This calls for concerted action at the individual, government and the private sector levels. Education, alternative livelihoods and improved rural infrastructure will serve as catalyst to making the shift to modern fuels a reality. Public private collaboration (PPC) is needed to make clean fuels accessible (financial and physical) to the rural populations and help enhance their livelihoods.

sustainable livelihoods, woodfuels, appropriate technology, modern fuel, ; UN post 2015 development agenda ; fuel poverty,alternative livelihoods

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