To establish a comprehensive and sustainable electric vehicle (EV) sector, Ghana’s Energy Commission is hosting a stakeholder forum to draft a pivotal policy document.
This initiative aims to streamline the sector by enforcing adopted standards, ensuring alignment with international regulations, and addressing safety concerns for EV users.
The forum aligns with the Energy Commission’s broader “Drive Electric Initiative,” which began in 2019 in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.
This initiative introduced electric vehicles to Ghana, seeking to foster a green and sustainable technology era, offering hope for a cleaner environment amidst a growing vehicular population.
Central to the discussion is the accessibility of EV charging stations across Ghana, which stakeholders believe will significantly drive the adoption of electric vehicles.
The forthcoming policy document will address EV charging and battery swap regulations, creating a legal framework to support the sector and enhance infrastructure deployment.
Stakeholders from various sectors—including energy, petroleum, oil, gas, automobile companies, private industry, and international agencies—participated in the forum, demonstrating a collaborative approach and their valued input on the policy.
These contributions will help shape the regulatory document to provide legal backing to Ghana’s EV standards and facilitate sector-wide improvements.
Doris Agbevivi, Assistant Manager of Energy Efficiency and the Drive Electric Initiative coordinator emphasized that the new regulations are intended to standardize and manage the sector, not to hinder EV adoption.
Agbevivi reassured, “The regulation is not to deter Ghanaians from exploring the electric vehicle sector but rather to bring standards to manage the sector.”
Clementine Dardy, Country Director of the French Agency for Development, urged the inclusion of sustainable environmental practices and electronic waste management in the regulatory framework.
She stressed the importance of adopting policies that prevent Ghana from becoming a dumping ground for outdated vehicles.
Dr Robert Sogbdji, Deputy Director of Energy Efficiency at the Ministry of Energy, highlighted the need for certified electricians to install charging stations to prevent electrical hazards.
The forum received support from the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and funding from the European Union (EU) under the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (SUNREF) program.
The EU committed 50,000 Euros to assist in developing the EV charging and battery swap regulations, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable and efficient energy use in Ghana.
