ABSTRACT
Despite the availability of clean energy (LPG, Electricity) and improvement in incomes, household heads
continue to depend on fuel wood as a source of energy. This study sought to assess households’ dependence
on fuel wood as a preferred energy source through the use of the theory of planned behaviour, along with
households’ sociodemographic characteristics in the Tamale Metropolitan area. The study was a social
survey with quantitative technique in data analysis. Stratified random and purposive sampling techniques
were employed along with a structured questionnaire aimed at eliciting information from household heads.
The raw data was coded into SPSS IBM version 20 and logistic regression analysis was performed taking
into consideration sociodemographic variables and the variables in the theory of planned behaviour model.
The major results were that, the sex of respondent, marital status, household size, and subjective norm
were major factors which influence household heads’ positively towards dependence on fuel wood as a
preferred energy source in the Tamale Metropolitan area. However, education and information influenced
household heads negatively towards dependence on fuel wood as a preferred energy source in the Tamale
Metropolitan area. The study revealed that, at a lower level of income, households would continue to
depend on fuel wood but would switch to a cleaner energy with high level of income. The study
recommended that, government through policy formulation should target influencing tradition/ culture
and also, continue to provide public education on energy switch patterns for sustainable forestry
development.