Energy Ministry to secure 100% waiver on imports of electric vehicles
The Energy Ministry and Finance Ministry are working closely to secure a 100 percent import waiver on electric vehicles to the country in an initiative to help drive the penetration of electric vehicles into the Ghanaian automobile market.
Making the disclosure at the opening of the first E-mobility Conference and Exhibition by the Energy Commission, Minister for Energy, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh remarked the Finance Ministry would provide incentives to encourage Ghanaians to move into the adoption of electric vehicles.
“These vehicles are expensive and people need these incentives to be able to adopt the initiative of moving onto electric vehicles,” he added.
Dr Opoku Prempeh, who had a test drive in one of the vehicles on display, said stakeholders were already addressing their needs of bringing those vehicles before the implementation of regulations.
He said people had brought in the electric vehicles even before the completion of regulations by the Energy Commission and they must be commended.
He called on stakeholders and policy makers to work together to devise policies, strategies, regulations and standards to bring about solutions and promote electric vehicles and other green initiatives in the country.
“We cannot take our climate change mitigation efforts for granted,” he added.
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The minister advised that individuals and companies installing charging stations in residential, office and public spaces register with the Energy Commission and adhere to the highest standards in anticipation of the charging station standards and regulations.
“This shift makes it necessary for Ghana to move with the times and ensure that our country does not become a dumping ground for used fossil-fueled vehicles,” he said.
Dr Opoku Prempeh said the outcome of this initiative would immensely contribute to reduction in vehicular pollution and carbon dioxide emissions which were very significant in meeting Ghana’s target as captured under the Ghana Nationally Determined Contribution.
“Electric vehicles are the future and the future is here with us,” he said.
The minister said the country’s current energy situation and climate targets called for creative initiatives, and the Drive Electric initiative was one of such.
According to the International Energy Agency, there are over 10 million electric vehicles in operation worldwide, making it clear that the world is moving away from conventional automobile engine vehicles to electric ones.
