By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Calls for urgent action to make clean cooking accessible to every household in Sierra Leone took center stage during a high-level dialogue at the Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (CRET 2025) conference held at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown.
Speaking during the two-day event, Aminata Wurie, Head of the Clean Cooking Delivery Unit in Sierra Leone, emphasized that clean cooking should no longer be considered a luxury but a necessity for all Sierra Leoneans. She underscored that in the 21st century, no household should still be relying on unsafe and unsustainable cooking methods such as firewood and charcoal.
“Clean cooking must be a must for every Sierra Leonean household,” Madam Wurie declared. She explained that her unit has developed a clear strategy to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions across the country. “We now have the strategy that we need to put in place so that we can get things done,” she said, calling for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the initiative reaches both urban and rural areas.
Wurie added that the foundation for clean cooking has already been established and urged partners to build on existing progress despite ongoing challenges. She called for stronger coordination among government institutions, development partners, and private sector players to ensure that the benefits of clean cooking are realized nationwide.
In her remarks, Carol Hannon, Head of Development and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland in Sierra Leone, commended the government’s commitment to achieving clean cooking access. She noted that while significant progress has been made, more needs to be done to ensure cleaner and healthier cooking options for all households. “Much has been achieved, and the government deserves praise for its efforts, but this is the time to accelerate,” Hannon said. She emphasized that achieving clean cooking is essential not only for environmental protection but also for improving public health and empowering women.
Moderating the session, the Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Cooking Alliance, Dymphna van der Lans, lauded Sierra Leone’s leadership in advancing clean energy and climate resilience. She described the country as being “at the center of Africa’s conversation on climate leadership and inclusive growth,” citing its growing role in promoting clean energy solutions across the continent.
Van der Lans also commended the government’s commitment to the Presidential Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), which she said is driving efforts to ensure that every household, school, and institution gains access to modern, affordable, and sustainable energy sources.
“This year’s theme, ‘Mobilising Investment for Climate Action, Food Security, Clean Cooking and a Just Energy Transition for All,’ perfectly captures the integrated approach needed to unlock prosperity while protecting people and the planet,” she noted.
The Clean Cooking Alliance CEO further highlighted that clean cooking remains one of the most powerful tools for achieving sustainable development. She explained that transitioning households from wood and charcoal to cleaner fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), bioethanol, and electricity is not merely an energy issue, it is about public health, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment.
“The children growing up in Freetown and across Sierra Leone deserve to breathe clean air, learn under electric light, and grow up in communities that thrive sustainably,” Van der Lans said. “That is the future this dialogue is helping to build.”
