By Dennis Peprah
Abesim, (B/R), Sept. 6, GNA – The nation’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy must prioritise the plights of minority groups in the country, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister has advocated.
As the nation transits from fossil fuel to renewable energy, the Regional Minister said the government ought to ensure that electric vehicles imported into the country were friendlier and easily accessible for People with Disabilities, pregnant women and the aged in society.
Madam Owusu-Banahene made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-lines of a dissemination workshop on the National Transport and EV Policies held at Abesim, near Sunyani.
The Ministry of Transport organised the day’s workshop attended by transport unions, road agencies, Municipal and District Assemblies, Heads of Departments and Agencies in the Region.
Madam Owusu-Banahene said PWDs, pregnant women and the aged formed an integral part of society, and “specialised passenger seats must be reserved for them in transport and public buses”.
“We must also try as much as possible to engage them, capture, address and consider their plights in decision making so as to make them feel part of society”, the Regional Minister stated.
Touching on the EV policy, Mad Owusu-Banahene noted the “policy stands as a pivotal component of our national agenda to align with global climate objectives and transition towards a low carbon economy”.
By promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, the country aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions, improving air quality and creating new opportunities for domestic industries, she explained.
Madam Owusu-Banahene commended the Transport Ministry, stakeholders and partners whose invaluable contributions had significantly influenced the formulation of the policy and called for cooperation among governmental bodies, private sector entities and the public towards the attainment of the objectives outlined in the policy.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the Minister of Transport, explained the revised National Transport Policy was aimed at promoting innovation and the adoption of new technologies in the transport sector, including electric vehicles.
“Globally, there is a common understanding that the present energy landscape is unsustainable and poses significant challenges to our environment, economy, and future generations.”
Therefore, through collaborative efforts and in line with the National Energy Transition Plan, we have developed the national electric vehicle policy to guide the uptake of electric vehicles in the country.
Just like the NTP, the EV Policy also went through extensive stakeholder engagements targeting MDAs, MMDAs, Regional Administrations, Transport Operators, Transport Service Providers, Vehicle Manufacturers and Dealers, and private sector entities among others.
Mr Asiamah said reaping the full economic and social benefits of emerging technologies in the transportation space would depend greatly on coordinated participation across both public and private sector stakeholders.
“It is, therefore, imperative for us to work collaboratively to incorporate diverse viewpoints into our national strategy,” he stated.
GNA