Ghana has received its first shipment of 50 electric buses as part of a government initiative led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to bring 100 of these buses to the country by the end of the year.

The new fleet, which arrived on November 12, is intended to reduce carbon emissions, lower transport costs, and introduce cleaner energy options into the nation’s public transport system.

The electric bus plan was first announced by Dr. Bawumia in July 2024 during a meeting with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU). According to Dr. Bawumia, the government’s push toward electric vehicles (EVs) aligns with Ghana’s climate goals and aims to reduce the high cost of transportation for citizens.

“One of the issues we are looking at as far as reducing the cost of transport in Ghana is that we go through two things: we should move towards electric vehicles, which will help the environment,” he said. Dr. Bawumia explained that this initial fleet of 100 buses is intended to demonstrate the benefits of electric vehicles to the public.

Officials from the Ministry of Transport view the new fleet as a way to introduce a more sustainable and efficient public transport option, especially in urban areas like Accra and Kumasi, where pollution levels from fuel-powered vehicles are high.

Ministry sources indicate that the buses will first be deployed in major cities to maximise their environmental impact.

The electric bus initiative also aims to motivate private transport operators to consider similar eco-friendly options. In addition, the government has outlined plans to build a nationwide network of EV charging stations, which will support the new bus fleet and contribute to the infrastructure for future electric vehicle use.

The public response has generally been positive, with many hopeful that the shift to electric buses will address long standing issues in Ghana’s public transportation system. As these buses enter regular service, they are expected to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported fuel and could lead to lower transportation costs over time.