The Vice President and flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched the first batch of electronic buses in the country.
The 100 buses which were launched in Accra Wednesday, November 27, 2024, will be piloted in the capital before it will be extended to other parts of the country.
The buses are powered by charging the electric system, instead of using fuel, and with the complete absence of cost of fuel and other related maintenance cost, cost of public transportation on the electric buses are expected to come down considerably, between 40% to 50%.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Bawumia said it marked the beginning of a new era in the public transport sector, and also a demonstration of “possibility mindset.”
“Today, we are making history with the commissioning of these electric buses. It represents a visionary shift in how we approach public transport. Today, we are taking a definitive step towards revolutionizing the transport sector with sustainability and innovation at its core,” Dr. Bawumia said, highlighting the positive impact of the electric buses on the environment.
“Today, we are setting the stage for the future and aligning our interventions with global best practices. The use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, its impact on climate change and air pollution, are no longer distant threats but urgent realities that demand immediate action.”
Economic benefit
The ultimate objective of the buses, according to the Vice President, was to reduce the cost of transportation, which he reiterated at the launch as one of the economic benefits.
“The economic benefits of using electric buses cannot be overemphasized. Electric buses, as we know, offer lower operating and maintenance costs compared to conventional diesel buses,” he said.
“The use of the electric bus will, therefore, translate into more efficient use of resources and cut operational costs by about 50% to the benefit of passengers. Metro Mass will be better positioned to enhance services, lower transport fares, and invest in fleet renewal and expansion efforts,” Dr. Bawumia said.
He revealed that from analysis done by stakeholders, cost of public transport on the newly launched buses will go down by at least 40%, due to the significant cut in operational cost, which is pegged at around 50%.
Although the electronic transportation system is now being piloted, the Vice President said it provides a mindset of possibility, considering the criticisms that came up when the idea was hatched.
“As usual, many said it was not possible. They said it was an election promises that would not be fulfilled. But that has been their mindset of impossibilities over the past 8 years.”
“I was not surprised when the naysayers pooh poohed the idea of electric vehicles. I had no doubt in my mind that this was possible. If other countries could deploy electric buses, why not Ghana.”
The commissioning marked the first phase of the electric buses initiative, which will start on the Adenta – Accra and Ashaiman – Accra routes.
Over 100 trained head porters to drive newly commissioned electric buses
