Ghana has set 2070 as the target year to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles, marking a long-term transition towards electric mobility as part of its climate and sustainability agenda.

The Energy Commission disclosed this at a media briefing in Ho ahead of a board engagement on the Draft Electric Vehicles Charging and Battery Swap Station Regulations on Friday, February 20.

According to the Commission, the global shift towards electric mobility is no longer optional but necessary, with electric vehicles offering a practical pathway to mitigating climate change and reducing emissions.

Opening the engagement, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Energy Efficiency at the Commission, Kennedy Amankwah, said the adoption of electric vehicles represents more than an environmental intervention.

“For Ghana, EVs signify a step forward in technological advancement, economic growth, environmental stewardship with suitable development and green consumption goals,” he stated.

He explained that the purpose of the board meeting was to take members through the draft regulations and solicit their inputs and comments to fine-tune and strengthen the framework before finalisation.

Mr Amankwah added that a structured electric vehicle market would promote compatibility of systems, address public health concerns linked to emissions and ensure safe technology transfer into the country.

Providing an overview of the proposed charging framework, the EV Coordinator of the Energy Commission, Joyce Caitlyn Ocansey, referenced the Drive Electric Initiative, launched in 2019, as a key pillar of Ghana’s transition strategy.

She said the Drive Electric Initiative would help prevent Ghana from becoming a dumping ground for internal combustion engine vehicles, while also encouraging the alternative and productive use of electricity for transportation.

The Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, John Gartchie Gatsi, said the draft regulations are designed to empower the Commission to effectively regulate and license all aspects of the electric vehicle infrastructure value chain.

This, he explained, includes the manufacturing, assembly, installation and operation of charging equipment as well as battery swap systems.

He further indicated that data generated from regulated charging and battery swap stations would strengthen the Commission’s core mandate in research, planning and policy regulation.

“To streamline and formalize activities with the EV sector, Ghana has adopted relevant standards for EV Charging Equipment and Battery Swap Systems, which are available through the Ghana Standards Authority,” he added.

The proposed regulatory framework is expected to lay the foundation for Ghana’s gradual transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric mobility, positioning the country within the broader global movement towards cleaner transport systems.