The ambition to reduce national CO2 emissions and contribute to limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius has necessitated the influx of electric vehicles, with the government of Ghana showing immense support for its adoption.

The government therefore launched the ‘Drive electric campaign’ in september 2021 to indicate its commitment towards this end.

However, in the interim, the government must enforce vehicle emission standards and policies in line with reducing national emissions, to yield substantial results, given that the absorption of electric vehicles may remain low within the near-to-medium term.

A recent study conducted compared the costs of electric vehicles to fuel-consuming vehicles. The results showed that it cost at least 13.5% more to own an electric vehicle (Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius) compared to Toyota Corolla.

The findings of the research revealed that the government’s tax incentive for removing 100% import levy on electric vehicles will only reduce the cost per mile by 2.5%. This raises concerns about the increased absorption of e-vehicles and the country’s preparedness for its use.

To corroborate, another study sought to investigate the state of road vehicle emissions in Africa and found that only 25% of vehicles in Ghana passed the vehicle emissions test.

Transport Sector contributes to high emissions

In Ghana, energy consumption qualifies as the second-highest emitter contribution to emissions. It contributes 36% of the total national emissions (15.02 MtCO2e) and only second to forestry and land use (FOLU).

The transport sector constituted a bulk of total fossil fuel consumption in 2016 alone. About 48% of the energy emissions are attributed solely to the transportation sector and constituted 17% of the overall national emissions. The increase in transportation-related emissions is as a result of the growing number of vehicle fleet and also the lack of vehicle emissions or fuel economy standards.

Between 2000 and 2016, sub-Saharan Africa experienced a 75% increase in emissions, with transport emissions increasing by 153% in Ghana, and below 100% increase in Kenya and Nigeria.

In the recent COP26 summit, Ghana updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change. The NDCs consist of some 47 climate adaptation and mitigation measures by the country.

By this new climate commitment, the country is seeking to generate absolute greenhouse gas emission reductions of 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (MtCO2e).

Currently, Ghana requires between $9.3 billion and $15.5 billion of investment climate interventions from 2020 to 2030 to build resilience for the protection of vulnerable communities and ecosystems.

Of this amount, $3.9 billion would be required to implement the 16 unconditional programmes of action in the year. The remaining $5.4 billion for the 31 conditional programmes of actions would be mobilized from the public, international and private sector sources and carbon markets.

Revive ‘Comatose’ Rail Transport System to reduce vehicular emissions

Another area to consider is the country’s rail transport system. The International Energy Agency (IEA) indicated that, rail transport provides an appreciable alternative to reducing vehicular emissions, as “it can lower transport energy use and reduce carbon dioxide and local pollutant emissions.”

Ghana’s railway sector has remained ‘dormant’ for more than 3 years, with no resumption of the rail transport system in sight, at least in the near term. With an increasing number of vehicular movements in urban cities within the country, vehicular emissions will continue to rise.

Hasan Tampuli, the Deputy Minister of Transport, during the ‘Ghana Day event’ organized alongside the COP26 summit, explained, that the Ministry’s focus is to scale up sustainable mass transportation systems, promoting the renewal of public transport fleet and introducing electric buses to the urban transport landscape.

“Funding these novelties is a big challenge due to the initial capital outlay for infrastructure development. We would leverage on private sector funds where appropriate for massive investment in the transport sector, to open up our economy for the flow of goods and people.”
Hasan Tampuli, Dep. Minister of Transport

While these remain as expectations, the government must ensure that already existing emissions policies are enforced, in addition to revamping the rail transport system. This will ensure that the government’s subsequent commitments as outlined do not turn out as ‘white elephants’.