Ghana needs to pace up its efforts to join the world towards phasing out fossil fuel-powered vehicles, Duncan Amoah, the executive secretary at the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC), has said.
He noted that Ghana and many other African countries were moving at a slow pace, saying, “If we do not act fast, we may not be able to derive the maximum benefits as expected.”
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Amoah said due to the adverse effects of climate change, continuous fuel price hike, health effects of fumes inhalation, and ensuring air quality; the policy development process must be quickened.
While commending the government for developing a policy manual on electronic vehicles, he proposed that the policy must be comprehensive to ensure adequate technology transfer synchronised with the curriculum of specialised tertiary institutions, infrastructure development, and capacity building for mechanics.
“We should develop a comprehensive industry that looks at what we are evolving to as well as opportunities that exist for government and the steps that need to be taken,” he said.
A draft document on technical regulations and policy framework will address technical issues on the mass deployment of electric vehicles in Ghana.
It also seeks to ensure access to reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, reduce levels of hydrocarbons and particulate matter in ambient air, and deliver on international commitments within Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions regarding greenhouse-gases emissions by 15% relative to a business-as-usual scenario emission by 2030.
The COPEC executive secretary mentioned that the western countries where the majority of vehicles were sourced had a well-thought-out plan to go electric in the next ten years hence the need to double up efforts.
Amoah praised Ghana and other African leaders for wooing automobile companies to establish assembling plants on the continent, adding that the focus should now be attracting electric vehicle producers.
He said Ghana as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should initiate steps to attract producers of electronic vehicles such as Tesla to partner with local companies including Kantanka Automobile to develop their capacity.
He stated that “Ghana will be on the right path if we bring in Tesla to build a plant in the country and train some of our young engineers to appreciate how electric motors work and how to fix them. When this is given the needed attention, we will be able to take the African market in the next five to ten years”.
To get the buy-in of the public, Mr Amoah said the import duties on electronic vehicles should be reduced as bait to attract the average person to opt for electric vehicles to enable the government to derive the needed income.
“Considering the income status of Ghanaians, we understand that most of these electric cars, even the hybrid ones, are usually 20%-30% more expensive than the hydrocarbon or fossil fuel versions so it is important not to make electronic cars expensive,” he noted.
Charging points
He said COPEC was working with some of the oil companies, particularly Ghana Oil Company and Petrosol to fix charging points at their respective stations for electric vehicles.
Already, some companies, working with the Energy Commission and relevant agencies had commenced initiatives to promote the use of electric-powered vehicles in the country.
Media report indicated that the European Commission(EU) unveiled last week a proposal that would effectively ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles in the EU from 2035, as part of its massive set of revised climate and energy legislation – the so-called ‘Fit-for-55’ package.
The EU would require CO2 emissions of new cars in 2030 to be 55% below the level in 2021 – a much higher target than the existing goal of a 37.5% cut. By 2035, new rules would make selling new fossil fuel-powered vehicles impossible in the EU.
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