Abstract
This study models the frequency use of wood, charcoal, liquid gas, electricity, and kerosene in urban households in Ghana and supplements the literature on cooking fuel choices. The modeling is based on survey data collected in several major Ghanaian cities. Survey results indicate that charcoal and liquid gas are frequently used in meal preparation, while the frequency use of firewood, kerosene, and electricity is limited. Frequency use is estimated using the ordered probit technique. Five cooking fuel use equations identify income, socio-demographic characteristics, and location of urban residents as influencing the frequency use. Statistically significant effects measure probability changes in each of the four fuel categories. Income and education increase the probability of often or very often of using liquid gas or electricity to cook. The effect of being employed by the government is similar but less consistent. Age, household size, and marital status are linked to frequency use, but differently affect specific fuels. As the number of children or adults increases in a household, so does the probability of using firewood or charcoal, but this also increases the probability that such households never use liquid gas or electricity for cooking. Regional differences indicate Tamale residents heavily rely on wood and charcoal, and infrequently use liquid gas or electricity. Multiple cooking fuel use behavior may reflect risk aversion to fuel shortages. Increasing incomes and improving education will drive the probability of an increased use of cleaner cooking fuels and decreased use of fuel mixes, benefiting meal preparers’ health and the environment.
Highlights
Cooking is indispensable for sustaining millions of people and in many countries cooking fuels represent a major portion of utilized energy
The use of charcoal as the primary fuel for cooking among urban households in Ghana has been estimated at about 53% [43]
This study contributes to the existing literature on cooking fuel choice and analysis of the frequency of using a specific fuel
Summary
Cooking is indispensable for sustaining millions of people and in many countries cooking fuels represent a major portion of utilized energy. Cooking with modern fuels allows labor and natural resources to be reallocated from fuel collection and production towards income-generating purposes [1,2], while significantly reducing time spent on cooking. In sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of the population cooks with solid fuels (wood, charcoal, or coal) as compared to 58% in China and 71% in India [3]. In 2000, 25% of the population in that part of Africa had access to electricity [4], increasing to 44%. The fast-expanding access to electricity obscures the prevalent use of charcoal in Africa [6]. The number of people depending on solid fuels is expected to substantially increase in sub-Saharan Africa [7]. Kerosene and gas (primarily liquid gas), are used by only
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