We will import 100 electric buses by the end of 2024 to combat climate change – Bawumia

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that plans are well advanced to procure and import 100 electronic buses into the country by the end of this year.

Dr. Bawumia disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra.

He explained that the introduction of electronic buses will be a public-private partnership.

He added that the government plans to construct charging stations at various fuelling stations to support the new fleet of buses once they arrive in the country.

“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,” he said.

He further noted that “Beginning this month, we are commencing the construction of charging stations because electric vehicles will need charging stations where you can charge your car. We want to place the charging stations in virtually every fuelling station.

“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."

The introduction of electric buses is expected to have a profound impact on Ghana’s transport sector. Beyond reducing carbon emissions, electric buses will lower operating costs due to their lower fuel and maintenance requirements.

This shift towards sustainable transport solutions aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and positions Ghana as a leader in adopting environmentally-friendly technologies in public transportation.

JKB/ADG