Editorial
Ensure cylinder recirculation module is safe for consumers
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The implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Module (CRM) policy has delayed due to a number of factors, notable among them is the huge influx of refurbished cylinders in the Ghanaian market.
The CRM module is a “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketing model that involves filling LPG cylinders at large refilling plants and then supplying them (the filled cylinders) to consumers at specialised retail outlets called exchange points, where consumers exchange their empty cylinders for a filled one.”
The module,according to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA),will take effect from the second quarter of this year but it has not yet been operational. The pilot project which was initially started in six regions has also suffered some setbacks due to lack of bottling plants across the country and the low turnaround rate of the cylinders.
The NPA again revealed that there were very little cylinders in the system which made it difficult for the module to operate fully. It seems the infrastructure for the project is not ready.
According to Sigma Ghana, a multi-national company involved in the manufacturing of cylinders, refurbished cylinders, which come through the known and unknown points of entry were labelled as scraps which are not supposed to be sold to consumers because the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has not certified them hence the cylinders do not conform to the required health and safety standards.
This was revealed by the General Manager of the company, MrCarlo Zeitounian during a familiarisation tour by officials of the Ministry of Energy and NPA recently at the company’s facilities to ensure that the cylinders produced were of the highest quality and safe for consumers. According to him,the company had already received product certification from the GSA for the manufacture of cylinders.
It is obvious that when it becomes fully operational, the CRM will be of benefit to Ghanaians. These include increased access to LPG, ensuring sustainable supply, health and safety and addressing sub-standard cylinders which pose danger to consumers among others.
Fortunately, the ban placed on the construction and operations of new LPG facilities across the country in August 2017, by thegovernment, after the Atomic Junction gas explosion, has been lifted and the NPA has directed all those who were affected to resubmit applications for consideration. This is good news for them.
This directive was stated in a letter signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid after the 35th Sitting of cabinet on August 3, 2022, which among others, addressed concerns of the LPG Marketers Association of Ghana (LPGMAG).
Earlier, LPGMAG, the Ghana LPG Operations Association and the Tanker Drivers Association of Ghana declared an industrial action as they raised a number of concerns which were addressed by cabinet.
The Spectator hopes that LPGMAG will stick to their promise made after calling off their industrial action to ensure the availability of LPG throughout the country. In almost every home in Ghana, gas is used for various purposes and without it, life will be unbearable for many as the use of charcoal is being discouraged to conserve the environment.
The lifting of the ban is a great opportunity for businesses to invest in the industry as they can now consider setting up bottling plants across the country to create jobs for many Ghanaians.
The Spectator again hopes that with the lifting of the ban the government will put the necessary measures and infrastructure in place for the CRM to come into full operation without delay.
To ensure the availability of cylinders for the module, the NPA should collaborate with the private sector to supplement what comes from the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC).
The Spectator wishes to plead with would-be manufacturers of the LPG cylinders, those who intend to open new gas filling stations and the LPG Marketers Association not to be in haste but use the appropriate channels for certification before they resume operations.
We urge the NPA and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to be vigilant by ensuring that manufacturers produce to specifications so that the cylinders which will be circulated on the market will be of the highest quality to meet health and safety standards.
The NPA should educate the public regularly before the module comes into full operation.
There is also the need to ensure that defected cylinders are worked on before they are circulated into the system for use.
It is the hope of this paper that the regulatory authorities will ensure that the Cylinder Recirculation Module is safe for consumers.
Dear Editor,
Successive governments have spent millions over the years maintaining the country’s roads.
Despite these huge investments, many roads continue to deteriorate due to several factors, including the operations of haulage vehicles.
It is unfortunate that many haulage vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, tipper trucks, and tankers transporting goods from the ports, contribute significantly to road damage.
In many cases, these vehicles are overloaded, placing excessive pressure on road surfaces and accelerating their deterioration.
Regulation 52 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), requires that loads carried on vehicles or trailers be securely fastened, protected, and properly packed to prevent them from sliding, shifting, or falling off.
However, compliance with this regulation remains a challenge.
There have also been reports of some heavy-duty vehicles bypassing designated weighbridges and failing to comply with axle-load limits as required by law. This weak enforcement has allowed some operators to continue violating regulations with little consequence.
The issue recently came up on the floor of Parliament, where lawmakers called for stricter enforcement of the laws governing the operations of haulage vehicles.
Their concerns highlight the urgent need for stronger monitoring and tougher sanctions against offenders.
As a concerned citizen, I believe the time has come for Ghana to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves.
Protecting our roads is a shared responsibility that requires effective enforcement of existing laws and greater accountability among transport operators.
The country cannot continue spending large sums of money repairing roads that are repeatedly damaged by preventable practices such as overloading and non-compliance with axle-load regulations.
Resources that could be invested in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other critical sectors should not be diverted to avoidable road maintenance.
Ensuring strict adherence to haulage regulations will not only preserve the nation’s road infrastructure but also promote safer and more efficient transportation for all road users.
B. Acton-Tettey,
Sukura-Accra
The government’s decision to phase-out the double-track system for Free Senior High School (FSHS) is commendable and highly welcome.
Ghana implemented the double-track system in 2018 to address the extreme congestion in Senior High Schools (SHS) brought on by the Free SHS policy.
In order to make the most use of the facilities already in place, it divides the student body and staff into two alternating batches, Green and Gold. This allows one track to attend classes while the other is on vacation.
Despite greatly increasing access to education, the double-track system has brought up serious difficulties.
In actuality, it has decreased the number of teacher contact hours, which has had a detrimental effect on students’ academic achievement and syllabus completion. Teachers are compelled to teach year-round due to the lack of regular vacation time, which results in fatigue, lower job satisfaction, and less time for professional growth.
Additionally, parents have bitterly complained that their “off-track” children’s extended breaks sometimes lead to laziness since they are disconnected from their academic routines and easily forget what they have been taught.
To help their children stay on top of their schoolwork, some parents use private tutoring which they claim is expensive. Others claim the system is exceedingly complex and indeed it needs to be addressed.
Another unsettling problem is that constant, year-round use of school buildings provides little to no time for regular maintenance, repairs, and cleaning of classrooms and dorms, all of which can have an adverse effect on students’ health.
What is more disturbing is that despite the enormous spikes in student enrollment, there is delayed supply of funds and insufficient food supply which schools frequently have to deal with.
The Spectator is pleased that the government is actively modernising facilities nationwide in order to phase out the double-tract system.
We are happy that the government has successfully completed negotiations with the World Bank to secure $300 million funds to end the double-track system in 2029.
This was announced by the Minister of Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu when he addressed the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency in Accra last week.
We are hopeful that the STARR-J Project (Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance and Results for Jobs), an educational initiative by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the World Bank aimed at expanding equitable access, upgrading facilities, and completely phasing out the double-track system will be feasible.
The government’s promise that under the initiative 210 senior high, technical and vocational schools will benefit from infrastructure expansion and upgrades is laudable. This includes the rehabilitation and expansion of 150 schools through the construction of additional classrooms, dormitories and laboratories.
When completed, the Double-Track System will be eliminated. Parents will heave a sigh of relief and teachers will not be overstretched.
