Ghana to Use Electric Vehicles for Public Transport – Dr Bawumia

The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has unveiled the government’s plans to establish a policy framework for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in public transportation across the country.

Dr. Bawumia’s announcement came following his visit to SolarTaxi, a Ghanaian company specializing in assembling electric vehicles in Accra on September 27.

During his visit, Dr. Bawumia had the opportunity to experience a ride in one of SolarTaxi’s electric buses, which impressed him with its ability to travel over 200 kilometers without needing a recharge.

In a Facebook post, the Vice President praised SolarTaxi, which is not only the third-largest electric vehicle assembler in Africa but also manufactures motorcycles, cars, and buses. He highlighted the importance of electric vehicles, noting that they represent the future of transportation.

“I paid a visit to a start-up, SolarTaxi, a wholly owned Ghanaian assembler of electric vehicles and the third largest electric vehicle assembler in Africa. They manufacture motorcycles, cars, and buses. It was a pleasure to take a ride in one of their buses which can travel from Accra to Kumasi without the need for a recharge of the batteries. They are also able to convert existing internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.”

Dr. Bawumia emphasized the potential benefits of adopting EVs, including a significant reduction in transportation costs.

He explained that a major portion of these costs currently goes toward fuel and spare parts, which would be substantially lower with electric vehicles.

Additionally, the transition to EVs would contribute to reducing carbon emissions, aligning with Ghana’s environmental sustainability goals.

SolarTaxi, in collaboration with its banking partners, offers innovative financing options for its electric motorcycles, cars, and buses. They do not require collateral, only GhanaCard IDs, making it accessible for more people to own electric vehicles. Notably, SolarTaxi’s workforce is youthful, with an average age of 26, and they have a strong representation of female engineers, comprising 90% of their engineering team.

The Vice President encouraged public transport authorities, including Metro Mass, STC, and Ayalolo, to seize the opportunity to acquire more electric buses. He praised SolarTaxi for its achievements and expressed his confidence in the company’s potential for further growth and innovation.

“I asked Metro Mass, STC and Ayalolo to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire more buses. Congratulations to SolarTaxi. Proud of you. The sky is the limit. It is possible!”