The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has found an innovative way to combine cultural celebration with public safety education — using this year’s Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival) in Ho as a platform to promote safe use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) among residents.
Moving beyond traditional regulatory roles, NPA officials joined thousands of festivalgoers over the weekend to demonstrate how cultural gatherings can become powerful spaces for learning and community engagement.
Teams from the Consumer Services, Corporate Affairs, and Gas Directorates, working with the Volta Regional Office, engaged market women, food vendors, transport operators, and households on best practices for handling LPG cylinders. Demonstrations on safe lighting, proper ventilation, and cylinder storage drew eager participation from attendees at the festival’s grand durbar.
Speaking at the event, NPA representatives said the Authority deliberately chose the Asogli Festival because of its ability to draw large, diverse audiences — making it an ideal platform to connect safety awareness with everyday life.
“We believe that education works best when people are relaxed, engaged, and proud of their culture,” an NPA official explained. “By joining hands with traditional authorities, we are able to reach the heart of the community.”
Traditional leaders of Asogli, led by Togbe Afede XIV, commended the NPA for integrating national development messages into cultural festivities. They praised the Authority’s hands-on approach, noting that safety education presented in familiar spaces resonates more strongly with the public.
The initiative forms part of the NPA’s ongoing nationwide campaign to promote clean energy use, reduce fire hazards, and encourage the adoption of LPG as a safer, environmentally friendly alternative to charcoal and firewood.
Festival attendees welcomed the effort, with several residents describing it as “timely” given the increasing use of LPG in homes and small businesses.
“We cook with gas every day, but most people don’t know how to check for leaks or change regulators properly,” said Akua Bediako, a food vendor in Ho. “Now we’ve learned things that can save our lives.”
The NPA says it will continue to partner with traditional councils, local assemblies, and media outlets to take the safety campaign to other festivals and community events across the country.
“Culture is identity — and it can also be a vehicle for transformation,” an NPA representative added. “When we use it to educate, everyone wins.”
