According to Irene Messiba, the Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ministry of Transport, discussions are currently taking place with officials from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to introduce an Electric Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in the city.
This move is part of the government’s efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector in line with global agreements and the National Energy Transition Plan 2022.
In order to facilitate the deployment and expansion of electric vehicles in the country, the Ministry has drafted an Electric-Vehicle Policy.
The transition to electric mobility provides an opportunity to transform the city’s emission and mobility pattern. Since city buses have a lifespan of 12-23 years, the decisions regarding technology will have a lasting impact on air quality and emission levels for decades to come.
Recently, the Ministry of Transport organized a meeting with media stakeholders in Accra to gather opinions on the implementation of the EV policy.
A feasibility study is currently being conducted, and the plan is to concession the routes once bus lanes are established.
The aim is to provide reliable and efficient public transport options, which will encourage people to stop using their cars.
Mrs. Messiba emphasized that public transport is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and the Ministry is committed to providing quality services to the public. The focus is currently on Kumasi, and the Ministry will expand the project to other areas if it proves successful.
She said, “This time around, we have learnt lessons from Accra, so we don’t want to repeat the mistakes we made in Accra, once we are successful in Kumasi, we come back to Accra to implement, it is expensive but we know that is the way to go because even when we do the mass public transport system, naturally okada would fizzle off because when you ask people why take okada, they tell you they want to get to their destination fast.”
Transport is a significant emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollutants in most cities in Ghana.
Available data shows road transport alone contributes 45.4% to total fuel combustion emissions and accounts for 13% of the overall national GHG emissions in 2016, showing a rising trend of 42% in the last ten years. Of the total road transport GHG emissions of 6,051.4 metric tonnes in 2016, buses account for 21%. Also, buses account for 17% of the total PM2.5 emissions in the country.
BRT was initially introduced into the country in 2016 and was implemented under the Urban Transport Project.