By Mercy Darko
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia says Ghana needs to look towards using electric vehicles rather than depending on fossil fuel and diesel.
He stressed the need for a policy framework that will push the country to adopt more environmentally friendly and cost effective means of transportation, adding that, in the wake of the high cost of living, there is the need to move from the use of fossil fuels and diesel to electric, as high cost of transportation translates to high cost of living.
Dr Bawumia made these remarks when visited and inspected a wholly Ghanaian-owned solar taxi company that assembles and sells electric vehicles in Accra.
The use of electric vehicles is fast becoming the new normal, especially in developed economies, as it is seen as an effective and efficient means of transportation and as environmentally friendly. Solar Taxi therefore seeks to ensure that Ghanaians and Africans at large are not left behind in this revolution.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia commended the company for the initiative, stressing that Ghana has a comparative advantage with regard to electronic vehicles. He said government is interested in the success of electric vehicles, stressing that the high cost of transportation in the country will be addressed when Ghanaians adopt the use of electric vehicles. While pledging government’s commitment to the initiative, Vice President Bawumia rallied the support of the state transport companies to come on board.
Chief Executive Officer of Solar Taxi, Jeorge Appiah, said in a remark that the company, which started in 2018, is focused on driving e-mobility in Ghana. He indicated that so far, over 400 vehicles have been assembled with 500 vehicles sold in the country. He noted that the company runs outright sale, lease-to-own, and long-term rental schemes for people who want to own or rent electric vehicles.
Vice President Bawumia was accompanied by the CEOs of the State Transport Company, STC, Ayalolo, and Metro Mass.