Energy-Poverty Nexus: Conceptual Framework Analysis of Cooking Fuel Consumption in Ghanaian Households

Abstract

This paper analysis energy-poverty relation based on household access to energy for cooking in Ghana. The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data for 2014 was used with multinomial logistic regression. The results show that the so-called energy poverty ladder hypothesis holds for household energy consumption, and wealth status of Ghanaians was found to be a full determinant of household energy adoption for cooking purposes. Generally, a high status household (Middle, Richer & Richest) have an increase in the probabilities of adopting clean fuels (electricity, LPG, etc.) than a poorest home and this is an indication that energy adoption and level of poverty are related. Other variables such as the age of household head, sex of household head, educational level of household head, residence where household stays and the size of household were found to have influence on the energy adoption behaviour of household. Efforts to reduce general poverty should be geared towards, but not limited to, the making of clean fuels available to households and individuals.

Keywords: Cooking fuel consumption; Energy-poverty nexus; Ghana; Household.

JEL Codes: O13, P28, Q42