The Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC) has raised concerns over household safety, revealing that a significant proportion of gas cylinders submitted for refurbishment under the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) are unfit for continued use. The company disclosed that nearly 30 per cent of cylinders presented for inspection were found to be defective, pointing to growing safety risks in homes across the country.
Management warned that the continued use of faulty cylinders poses a serious threat to lives and property, increasing the likelihood of gas leaks, fires and explosions. Some of these incidents, the company noted, have previously resulted in devastating consequences in communities, underscoring the urgency of addressing the issue.
Speaking to journalists, Managing Director Abdul-Rahman Mankir called for the expansion of the CRM beyond its current operational areas to improve safety outcomes nationwide. He explained that the model is presently being implemented in Accra, Kumasi and Tema, but stressed that scaling it up across the country, alongside intensified public education, would strengthen compliance and reduce risks.
Mr Mankir also highlighted low levels of awareness in some areas, including parts of Accra, and advocated broader education campaigns in collaboration with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). The CRM, championed by the NPA, allows consumers to exchange empty cylinders for certified, filled ones at designated outlets rather than refilling them directly, ensuring regular inspection, maintenance and replacement of LPG cylinders.