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…