Cooking With Charcoal: The Cost of Not Going Green

By Nene

Kasoa, Central Region — The sound of sizzling stew fills the small compound as Esi Darko fans the glowing charcoal in her clay stove. A mother of four, she starts cooking every day before dawn. Firewood is too smoky, gas is too expensive. So, like millions of Ghanaians, she relies on charcoal.

“This is what I can afford,” she says. “Gas is faster, yes — but one refill costs me more than two weeks of food.”

Across Ghana, charcoal remains the primary cooking fuel for over 35% of households, especially in peri-urban and rural communities. But the true cost of this widespread dependence is much higher than the price of a sack.

From health hazards to deforestation, charcoal’s hidden toll is becoming impossible to ignore.

A Nation That Cooks on Charcoal

Despite government efforts to promote LPG and electricity for cooking, charcoal remains a staple due to:

Affordability – A medium sack of charcoal costs ₵40–₵60, much cheaper than an LPG refill
Availability – Charcoal is sold on nearly every street corner
Cultural familiarity – Many dishes are believed to “taste better” on charcoal fires
Unreliable power supply – Makes electric cooking risky

“Charcoal is reliable,” says Kwabena, a street food vendor. “Even when the lights go out, I can still serve my customers.”

The Environmental Cost

But behind this convenience lies a major environmental crisis:

Ghana loses an estimated 135,000 hectares of forest annually
Charcoal production contributes significantly to deforestation and forest degradation
Unsustainable cutting of trees for charcoal has led to desertification in some savannah zones
Protected forests, including parts of the Atiwa and Mole areas, are being illegally logged for charcoal

“Charcoal is eating our trees,” warns Emmanuel Owusu, a forest ranger in Brong Ahafo. “And without trees, we lose more than wood — we lose our rain, our shade, our soil.”

Health Hazards at Home

In homes without proper ventilation, charcoal cooking exposes women and children to dangerous levels of smoke, leading to:

Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma
Eye infections from constant smoke exposure
Increased risk of pneumonia in young children

The World Health Organization lists household air pollution as one of the top five causes of premature death in low-income countries.

“I cough every morning,” says Esi. “But what can I do? I need to cook.”

Economic Chains: From Forest to Flame

The charcoal economy employs thousands — from woodcutters to transporters to sellers.

At a charcoal market in Ashaiman, traders explain how the system works:

Wood is sourced (often illegally) from the north or forest zones
It is burned in kilns for days to produce charcoal
The sacks are transported via truck to cities
Retailers break them into smaller portions for resale

“It’s our livelihood,” says Adwoa, a seller. “If we stop, how will we feed our children?”

But this economic dependence makes regulation difficult.

Can We Go Green?

Ghana’s Energy Commission and Ministry of Environment have promoted alternatives such as:

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) with subsidy programs
Electric induction stoves in urban areas
Biogas and briquettes in pilot schools and prisons
Clean cookstove campaigns to reduce smoke

Yet adoption remains low due to cost, access, and habit.

“Many people don’t trust gas,” says Abigail, a market trader. “It’s fast, but they fear explosions.”

And electricity? “Dumsor is still a threat,” adds Kwabena. “You can’t rely on power when you’re feeding 100 people.”

Innovation in Local Solutions

Some NGOs and startups are stepping in:

Toyola Energy manufactures improved charcoal stoves that use less fuel and emit less smoke
Sustainera Ghana produces biochar and eco-briquettes from agricultural waste
Youth-led enterprises are promoting solar cooking demos in rural schools

“These solutions exist,” says clean energy advocate Selorm Adadevoh. “But we need to fund them, scale them, and educate people.”

Policy Versus Practice

Ghana’s Renewable Energy Master Plan aims to reduce charcoal use by 50% by 2030. However, policy experts argue that enforcement is weak and funding is inconsistent.

“We talk of tree planting,” says Owusu the ranger, “but we don’t stop tree cutting.”

Meanwhile, illegal loggers face minimal punishment, and charcoal traders continue business as usual.

The Human Dilemma

At the heart of the issue lies a painful choice: feed your family today — or protect tomorrow?

For Esi, switching to gas means sacrificing money for school fees. “We’re not against change,” she says. “But don’t forget the poor when making these plans.”

Final Thought

Charcoal cooking is more than a kitchen habit — it’s a national paradox. It feeds, it warms, it comforts. But it also chokes lungs, fells forests, and warms the planet.

If Ghana is serious about going green, the shift must be fair, affordable, and inclusive. Until then, the fire will keep burning — not just in stoves, but in forests and lungs too.

“We want better,” says Esi. “But we need help to get there.”