Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that plans are well advanced to procure and import 100 electronic buses into Ghana by the end of the year. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, as well as to address rising transportation costs.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Dr. Bawumia explained that the introduction of electronic buses will be executed through a public-private partnership. He also revealed that the government plans to construct charging stations at various fueling stations to support the new fleet of buses once they arrive.
“One of the issues we are looking at as far as reducing the cost of transport in Ghana is that we go through two things: we should move towards electric vehicles, which will help the environment. Also, with electric vehicles, two elements will help all of us: It doesn’t consume fuel. So, when the price of fuel increases, it will not impact the price of electric vehicles. Again, there are not many spare parts in electric vehicles; the main spare part that will be needed will be the battery, which can last for years. It will reduce the transport cost,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
He further elaborated on the government’s plans to commence the construction of charging stations this month. These stations will be located at various fueling stations across the country. The aim is to make Ghana more reliant on solar power, with the charging stations being hybrid, utilizing both solar and electricity.
“We want Ghana to move towards solar power. So, the charging stations will be hybrid, both solar and electricity, but we want to move towards this by election. This year, we are hoping to bring in close to 100 electric buses to show the public how it is working,” he added.
The introduction of these electric buses is expected to significantly impact the transportation sector, making it more sustainable and cost-effective.