Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has hinted at plans by the government to invest in the promotion of electric vehicles in the 2024 budget.
According to him, electric vehicle usage has witnessed a steady surge in the country with the total currently standing at 17,000.
Addressing the media on Thursday, November 9, 2023, the Manhyia South legislator explained that Ghana has since developed an electric vehicle policy which will soon be unveiled.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh further highlighted the economic benefit of the usage of electronic vehicles compared to diesel-powered vehicles suggesting that the government must take steps to discourage their usage.
“Last year, the Energy Commission working with the Ministry and other agency players came up with the standards for chargers that we use for electric vehicles…and this year is COP28.
“This year, the Transport Ministry will unveil Ghana’s electric vehicle policy. With that Electric Vehicle Policy, we want even the public sector to take more. Already, the Ghanaian trotro drivers and taxi drivers have started the revolution of using gas.
“I went for a demonstration at Movenpick last year and I was surprised that currently, we have 17,000 electric vehicles in this country. Ghanaians are far. They are gone. It makes economic sense to some of these fleet operators who use urban buses to transport workers in Tema, Accra and things to industry,” he said.
“Most of the cars that are now coming out are now EV vehicles. We are promoting EVs and I am sure in the budget, we will hear more from the government about how we are promoting EVs,” the minister stressed.
