Commissioning of electric buses is a visionary shift in how we approach public transport - Bawumia

The Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has ushered Ghana's public transportation into a new era following the introduction of electric buses for public transportation in the country.

Dr. Bawumia launched the first batch of electric buses, which will be piloted in Accra, at a colourful ceremony in the Capital on Wednesday November 27, 2024.

The buses are powered by charging the electric system, instead of using fuel, and with the complete absence of fuel cost and other related maintenance cost, the cost of public transportation on the electric buses are expected to come down considerably, between 40% to 50%.

Speaking at the historic launch of the buses, Dr Bawumia said it marked the beginning of a new era in the public transport sector and also a demonstration of a "possibility mindset."

"Today, we are making history with the commissioning of these electric buses. It represents a visionary shift in how we approach public transport. Today, we are taking a definitive step towards revolutionising the transport sector with sustainability and innovation at its core," Dr. Bawumia said, highlighting the positive impact of electric buses on the environment.

 

"Today, we are setting the stage for the future and aligning our interventions with global best practices. The use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, its impact on climate change and air pollution, are no longer distant threats but urgent realities that demand immediate action."

ECONOMIC BENEFIT

When Dr. Bawumia announced the introduction of the electric buses earlier this year, he said his ultimate objective was to reduce the cost of transportation, and at the launch, he highlighted the economic benefit of the buses to Ghanaians.

"The economic benefits of using electric buses cannot be overemphasised. Electric buses, as we know, offer lower operating and maintenance costs compared to conventional diesel buses," he said.

"The use of the electric bus will, therefore, translate into more efficient use of resources and cut operational costs by about 50% to the benefit of passengers. Metro Mass will be better positioned to enhance services, lower transport fares, and invest in fleet renewal and expansion efforts," Dr. Bawumia said.

He revealed that from analysis done by stakeholders, the cost of public transport on the newly launched buses will go down by at least 40% due to the significant cut in operational cost, which is pegged at around 50%.

MINDSET OF POSSIBILITY

Dr. Bawumia noted that the successful introduction of the electric buses, achieved in the face of pessimism from certain quarters, reflects the mindset of possibilities, which he has often talked about.

"As usual, many said it was not possible. They said it was an election promise that would not be fulfilled. But that has been their mindset of impossibilities over the past 8 years."

"I was not surprised when the naysayers pooh-poohed the idea of electric vehicles. I had no doubt in my mind that this was possible. If other countries could deploy electric buses, why not Ghana."

The commissioning marked the first phase of the electric buses initiative, which will start on the Adenta - Accra and Ashaiman - Accra routes.

Next year, more buses will be added, which will expand the initiative to other parts of the country.



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