The Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC) has issued a stark warning following its latest safety assessment, announcing that a significant proportion of gas cylinders submitted for refurbishment under the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) are no longer safe for public use.
Data from the company reveals that nearly 30 per cent of the cylinders presented for inspection and refurbishment were found to be defective, rendering them unfit for continued service.
The GCMC emphasised that the presence of these faulty cylinders in domestic environments constitutes a major threat to both lives and property.
It further explained that defective units significantly heighten the risk of gas leaks, fires, and potential explosions—incidents that have previously resulted in devastating consequences across several communities.
Designed to enhance safety, the CRM is currently being championed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The model ensures that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders undergo regular inspection and maintenance, with old units being replaced as necessary. Under this system, consumers exchange empty cylinders for filled, certified replacements at designated distribution points, effectively ending the practice of refilling personal cylinders at fuel stations.
Speaking to journalists, Abdul-Rahman Mankir, the Managing Director of GCMC, underscored the urgent need to scale up the implementation of the CRM beyond its current operational scope.
While the model is currently active in key urban centres such as Accra, Kumasi, and Tema, he argued that a nationwide expansion would significantly improve public safety outcomes.
“Currently, it is being run in Accra, Kumasi, and Tema. And so if it is expanded to other regions, I mean it is going to help a lot, especially in terms of keeping our cylinders safe. Very soon, we are going to partner with the NPA to do full-scale public education on the cylinder recirculation model. But one thing we have realised is that in some parts, even in Accra, some people don’t even know about the CRM and so when we do the full-scale public education, we are sure people are going to come on board.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
