By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Jan. 26, GNA – Stakeholders in Ghana’s automotive and clean energy sectors have called on stakeholders to accelerate the decarbonisation of the transport sector to boost industrial growth, create jobs and reduce emissions.
This is critical as it would help strengthen the country’s position as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.
A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency to commemorate the International Day of Clean Energy, observed annually on January 26, has said.
The Day calls for climate action in the fight against climate change, increased universal access to affordable and sustainable energy to stimulate economic opportunities and support achieving SDG7.
The U.K. – Ghana Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) programme joins the global community to spotlight the vast potential Ghana holds to chart a cleaner energy future.
It said a future that boosts industrial competitiveness, safeguards the environment, creates high-quality jobs, and strengthens the country’s ambition as a leading automotive hub in West Africa, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.
It said as champion of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy (GADP), the programme called for the early adoption of coordinated measures to position Ghana as a competitive clean-energy and automotive hub.
Ms Terri Sarch, Development Director at the British High Commission in Accra, (UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – FCDO) said the automotive sector could be a powerful driver of clean energy transition, industrial growth and job creation through policies and investments that promote cleaner transport and local manufacturing.
It said transportation currently accounted for nearly half of Ghana’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, which rose by almost 15 per cent between 2015 and 2023, driven by fossil fuel dependence, an ageing vehicle fleet and rapid urbanisation.
It said air pollution, the second leading cause of death in the country, aside HIV, tuberculosis and malaria costs the economy an estimated three billion dollars annually.
It explained that Ghana had about 3.2 million vehicles, with an average age of 14 years, and imported around 100,000 vehicles annually, most of them used and highly polluting.
The statement said although electric vehicle uptake, especially two- and three-wheelers, were increasing, progress towards a low-emission vehicle fleet remained slow.
It said a mid-term review of the GADP, however, revealed that while the policy had attracted about $98 million in investment and established seven vehicle assembly plants, domestic demand for new vehicles remained weak, largely due to affordability challenges and lack of structured vehicle financing.
It thus called for the activating Clean Energy provisions in the GADP, support implementation of vehicle financing schemes and boost confidence and demand for assembled vehicles.
This decisive action would deliver cleaner air, better public health, skilled jobs and a stronger manufacturing base, urging Ghana to accelerate proven solutions and lead in clean automotive manufacturing, it added.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba