By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, June 12, GNA -The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Hubei University of Automotive Technology (HUAT) in China have hosted a forum to pioneer conversations around intelligent electric vehicles in Africa.
The Forum dubbed “2025 China-Africa Automotive Development” forms part of the commitment to bridging academia with industry and policy.
Put together by the Confucius Institute, KNUST in collaboration with the College of Engineering, it was themed “Intelligent Manufacturing of Lightweight Electric Vehicles.”
It brought together stakeholders including researchers, students, government officials, diplomats, and exhibitors to display electric bikes, scooters, cars and charging stations that have been developed or adapted within the local context.
Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor (VC), KNUST indicated that KNUST and HUAT were initiating steps towards the establishment of International Joint Research Center for Advanced Automotive Energy Storage Materials and Systems, a landmark initiative that would shape the future of mobility in Africa.
This Centre will advance research in battery storage, vehicle design, and grid integration – ensuring that the local knowledge ecosystem keeps pace with global trends.
She expressed optimism in co-creating solutions that are responsive, inclusive, and scalable, urging students and engineers to envision themselves to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility.
The VC said the automotive industry was undergoing a paradigm shift, evolving from traditional combustion technologies to smart, eco-friendly transportation.
“For Africa, this shift is an opportunity to leapfrog into advanced manufacturing and technology ecosystems that support inclusive and sustainable growth,” Prof. Dickson remarked.
Prof. Wang Xiao, President, HUAT, commended the Confucius Institute for serving as a link between the KNUST and HUAT.
He said in 2024, several professors from KNUST participated in the China-Africa Automotive Development Forum and International Conference on New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicles held at HUAT.
The goal is to promote development through exchanges in automotive engineering education and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future, Prof. Xiao note.
Mr. Li Yang, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, said there was a great potential of growth in the African automobile market.
He said China’s commitment to Africa and dedication to jointly advance industrialization remained unwavering.
Mr. Seth Mahu, Director, Renewable Energy and Green Transition at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, said the Ghana-China partnership must lead to measurable outcomes and impacts, saying that, “five years from today, we should be able to tell bold stories about how Ghana’s electric vehicle market has evolved”.
His was of the firm belief that the partnership with China through technology transfer, joint ventures, and training, could accelerate progress exponentially.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Kenneth Odeng Adade