The Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. Frederick Obeng Adom has recounted to have been a global understanding that the present energy landscape emerges unsustainable and poses significant challenge to the environment, economy, and the future generation.

He noted that through collaborative efforts in line with the National Energy Transition Plan, the Transport Ministry has developed the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy to guide conflatory vehicles in the country.

Speaking at the dissemination of the National Transport Policy (NTP) 2020 and National Electric Vehicle Policy meeting on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in Cape Coast, the Deputy Minister of Transport noted that like the NTP, the EV Policy equally went through extensive stakeholder engagements.

Targeting MMDAs, MDAs, regional administrations, transport operators, transport service providers, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, private sector entities among others.

He recounted that one key focus of the National Transport Policy is to promote innovation and the adoption of new technology in the transport sector including electric vehicles.

Ghana has begun a campaign on energy transition to achieve universal energy access and chart a path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 13, as the Ministry of Transport last year launched the EV Policy to help reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

Hon. Obeng Adom added that the dissemination exercise will together foster stronger partnership for the implementation of the National Transport Policy and the National Electric Vehicle Policy to maximize inclusive development outcome for both current and future generation.

William Freeman Goku, the Central Regional Environmental Health Officer who delivered the Regional Minister's address on her behalf, highlighted that the importance of road transport in the social, economic and political development of every country cannot be swept under the carpet, since road transport is the cheapest and commonest among other transportation systems.

He observed that available statistics indicate that road transport accounts for over 75% of all goods transported over land, as it facilitates fast movement of people, goods and services, thereby enhancing quality of life.

The Environmental Health Officer further remarked that in the wake of the current global warming dynamics and advocacy for paradigm shift from running vehicles on fossil fuel to the use of electric vehicles is essential in a bid to cut down carbon emissions and to also foster a more robust transport system for national development.

 Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan