Despite Ghana's 89% national electricity access rate, fewer than 0.5% of households use electricity for cooking, largely due to perceptions about its cost. However, research by ISSER researchers, detailed in the newly released E-Cookbook for Urban Ghana, challenges this notion.
"Our comprehensive experiments scientifically prove that electric cooking is more economical than traditional methods, dispelling widespread misconceptions about cost," explains Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Phase II Principal Investigator, Prof. Simon Bawakyillenuo. In May 2023, the MECS Phase II research team at ISSER rigorously tested the efficiency of electric cooking technologies against LPG and charcoal, using Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) laboratory standards.
Breaking myths: Cost, efficiency, and health benefits of electric cooking
Through meticulous experimentation with staple Ghanaian dishes like jollof rice, banku with okro soup, Red Red (beans with fried plantain), and ampesi (boiled yam and plantain) with palava sauce, the researchers found Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) consistently outperformed LPG and charcoal alternatives in affordability and efficiency.
Beyond cost savings, the study highlights significant health and environmental benefits. EPCs produce zero carbon emissions and particulate matter, unlike charcoal and LPG, making them a cleaner and safer option. The researchers describe this shift as a "win-win-win pathway" for households and the nation, aligning with Ghana’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 7, 11, and 13 on health, clean energy, sustainable communities, and climate action.
Increasing e-cooking adoption
To drive incremental adoption of electric cooking, the study recommends demystifying popular misconceptions about cost, strengthening partnerships for technological development, implementing promotional programmes similar to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and improved cookstove (ICS) initiatives, and localising e-cook technologies to meet household demands and culinary practices.
The value of this E-Cookbook for Urban Ghana
The E-Cookbook for Urban Ghana is a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, students, CSOs, private sector players, households seeking modern cooking solutions. It presents scientific evidence supporting Ghana’s green agenda of transitioning to electric cooking, in line with the 2022 National Energy Transition Framework.
Download the full MECS Phase II E-Cookbook for Urban Ghana, explore and discover the insights that could shape the sustainable cooking futures of Ghana.
Contact
For further discussion, contact lead author Prof. Simon Bawakyillenuo at sbawakyillenuo@ug.edu.gh
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