Ghana is preparing to roll out electric vehicles – Transport Ministry – Skyy Power FM

The Transport Ministry says Ghana is ready to be part of the electric vehicle revolution worldwide.

Speaking at a stakeholder consultation program on Electric vehicles and implementation framework in Takoradi on Friday, July 7, the Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Hassan Tampuli said it is very important that Ghana takes these early steps to become abreast with the current time and not overtaken by events.

He said the transport sector is a net emitter of greenhouse gases and with over 3.2 million vehicles in Ghana, 99% of them use fossil fuel which is very dangerous to the environment.

He said, “I had a conversation with someone who said he doesn’t care if the Europeans are going to make Africa a dumping ground, to which he agreed and said they should bring those rejected cars. At some points the cars will stop coming because the Europeans have said by the year 2030, they will stop making vehicles that use petrol and diesel.”

“Are we going to wait until they finish before, what if they stop manufacturing spare parts for these vehicles? it is important that we take these early steps we are taking and be abreast with the current event.”

He said Ghana is one of the best countries to take on the opportunity to roll out electric vehicles as the country has more power penetration than most African countries.

“Ghana has 86.6% power penetration, so we are the logical people to start rolling out electric vehicles,” he added.

At the event, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Herbert Krapah, indicated transportation remains the most important sector for the accelerated development of any economy, hence the duty of building a suitable and sustainable transportation system.

He said an electric vehicle in place of an internal combustion engine seems to provide that long-term answer.

He said, “The global push towards the electric vehicles is not happening in factions, the challenge confronting us, therefore, is how we build suitable and sustainable transportation system and the electric vehicle seems to be the answer.”

The Deputy Minister said they are working to increase electricity demand to match supply as a way of functionally addressing the electricity generation of the capacity they currently have.