The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has disclosed the government's intention to convert some fuel stations into Electric Vehicle (EV) charging centers.

Speaking at an energy policy forum on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Jinapor stated that the services of the Chinese company, BYD, would be employed to develop technology capable of fully charging electric vehicles within five minutes.

This initiative is part of the government's efforts to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and transition to the use of clean energy.

Jinapor said, “What we are going to do is convert most of our filling stations, take some space, and put in place charging stations. And today, with technology, in just five to ten minutes, you can charge your car and continue to move.

“We are also going to deploy BYD, the Chinese company, to develop a new technology. With that technology, in five minutes, your car will be fully charged."

Some private sector companies have already taken proactive steps by setting up assembly plants and developing charging infrastructure. Others have introduced electric vehicles for courier services, among other initiatives.

Currently, plug-in hybrids constitute 19,000 vehicles in Ghana, while pure EVs account for 2,000.

The introduction of EV buses in Ghana is linked to the vision of former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to adopt electric vehicles as a cost-saving measure for the transportation sector.

This move is also aimed at modernising the country’s public transportation system, with the expectation that public transport costs will be reduced by 40-50%.

SA/AE

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