Ghana, a burgeoning economy in sub-Saharan Africa, finds itself at the crossroads of rapid urbanisation and environmental challenges. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollutants from transport activities have become significant concerns in most Ghanaian cities. In fact, road transport alone contributes a staggering 45 percent of total fuel combustion emissions, constituting 13 percent of the nation’s overall GHG emissions in 2016, a rising trend that saw this figure almost double over the past 10 years. The operation of buses accounted for 21 percent of those road transport emissions, amounting to 6,051 metric tonnes and 17 percent of the country’s total PM2.5 emissions.
This trend is further exacerbated by Ghana’s rapid urbanisation, as more than half of the population now resides in urban areas, and notably in four major cities—Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Tamale.
To address these challenges, Ghana has set ambitious goals through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC): by 2030, the country aims to reduce GHG emissions by about 15 percent compared to the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario. To achieve this, Ghana counts on various strategies, such as restricting the importation of older vehicles, increasing the utilisation of public transportation by 10 percent in the four major cities, and promoting the electrification of vehicles.
However, the transition to e-mobility so far has been slow, and Ghana’s e-mobility agenda requires supportive government policies, collaboration with the private sector, and investments from international development partners. Policy interventions are criticall for facilitating the widespread adoption of e-mobility and related advancements in the urban transport landscape.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana has requested the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide technical assistance and guidance in preparing for transforming the bus fleet into electric vehicles in order to align it with its NDC Action Plan. As a UNEP Specialised Partner, BASE is providing technical assistance in preparing an updated feasibility assessment, the economic and financial analysis as well as the draft of a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Concept Note, which will be part of the GCF funding proposal.
The activities will include:
– Conducting the analysis of the remuneration scheme for electric buses.
– Developing the business model and the structure that ensures the bankability and alignment with GCF funding requirements.
– Analysis of the electricity demand and proposed strategies for different charging scenarios for e-Buses in Accra
BASE’s work will be key to supporting the government of Ghana to shift to a sustainable e-mobility ecosystem, working towards combating climate change and promoting more sustainable transportation solutions. The project aims to bring 75 electric buses to Accra’s streets.
