Concerted public-private partnerships are required to accelerate the nation’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate, with regulatory clarity and infrastructure development top of the agenda.
This was the view of industry stakeholders during the recent launch of Grace Mobility Ghana, who believe the development of charging infrastructure, streamlined licensing processes, and targeted incentives would encourage both domestic and international investment in the nation’s emerging electric mobility sector.
Speaking at the launch, Minister-designate for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investors. “The government commits to restoring investor confidence through the creation of a congenial business atmosphere and support for businesses including SMEs for job creation,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD), Nathaniel Amonoo Wilson.
The Minister-designate added that the administration is prioritising green technology integration, noting that “the launch of GraceMobility here in Ghana therefore marks a significant milestone in our journey toward a climate-friendly future.”
GraceMobility Ghana, a subsidiary of GraceMobility International, aims to expand the EV market by introducing electric cars, commercial vehicles, and bicycles.
The company’s Global Chief Executive, Omar Shallah, highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of EVs, pointing to fuel cost savings and emissions reduction.
“Beyond sustainability and their environmental benefits, electric cars offer health benefits. By reducing their emissions, the fuels emitted by internal combustion engines and cars can be shown to negatively affect the lives, especially among children, contributing to respiratory diseases,” he said.
Infrastructure and policy hurdles
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding EVs, industry leaders have raised concerns over structural barriers to adoption. The high upfront cost of EVs, driven in part by import duties and taxes, remains a key challenge.
“Unfortunately, since we started with the brand and built the car, a big part of the pricing is related to the taxes and the duty exemptions,” Grace Mobility Ghana’s CEO, Subhi Accad noted.
He urged the government to implement tax incentives and ease financing conditions to make EVs more accessible to businesses and consumers.
Charging infrastructure remains another major hurdle as the nation’s charging network is still in its infancy, with few publicly accessible stations.
The Transport Ministry’s rep acknowledged the need for private investment in this area, stating that “there is enormous potential for private sector participation in the deployment of charging infrastructure in the assembly and manufacturing of electric vehicles.”
GraceMobility Ghana has outlined plans to strengthen its local assembly capabilities, with a long-term ambition to establish a battery manufacturing industry.
The company sees the local lithium reserves as a potential game-changer in reducing reliance on imported EV components. “It should be possible for us to start assembling these vehicles here. And eventually, with the lithium that we have, to be able to manufacture the batteries here,” Mr. Accad stated.
A Global shift towards EVs
While Ghana is in the early stages of its EV transition, international trends suggest that adoption rates are rising. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global EV sales exceeded 14 million units in 2023, representing 18 percent of total car sales.
In Africa, however, uptake has been slower due to cost barriers and infrastructure gaps. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda have introduced policy incentives, including reduced import duties and tax exemptions, to spur adoption.
For Ghana to compete in the regional EV market, industry experts argue that the government must take a more proactive approach. Mr. Accad emphasised the urgency of the transition, stating that “the transition to environmentally friendly modes of transport is not an option but a call to action in the global fight against climate change.”
He called for further investment in workforce training to build local expertise in EV maintenance and servicing.
