Bawumia Launches Affordable Electric Buses
The Vice President and NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has ushered Ghana’s public transportation into a new era following the introduction of electric buses in the country.
Dr. Bawumia has launched the first batch of electric buses and piloted in Accra on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
The buses are electrically powered and doesn’t use fuel.
With the complete absence of cost of fuel and other related maintenance cost, cost of public transportation will come down considerably between 40% to 50%.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Bawumia said this marks a new era in the public transport sector, and also demonstrates the “possibility mindset”.
“Today, we are making history with the commissioning of these electric buses. It represents a visionary shift in how we approach public transport. Today, we are taking a definitive step towards revolutionizing the transport sector with sustainability and innovation at its core.”
“Today, we are setting the stage for the future and aligning our interventions with global best practices. The use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, its impact on climate change and air pollution, are no longer distant threats but urgent realities that demand immediate action”, Dr. Bawumia said, highlighting the positive impact of the electric buses.
Economic Benefit
When Dr. Bawumia announced the introduction of the electric buses earlier this year, he said his ultimate objective was to reduce the cost of transportation and at the launch, he highlighted the economic benefits of the buses to Ghanaians.
“The economic benefits of using electric buses cannot be overemphasized. Electric buses, as we know, offer lower operating and maintenance costs compared to conventional diesel buses…The use of the electric bus will, therefore, translate into more efficient use of resources and cut operational costs by about 50% to the benefit of passengers. Metro Mass will be better positioned to enhance services, lower transport fares and invest in fleet renewal and expansion efforts.”
Dr. Bawumia also noted that the electric buses achieved in the face of pessimism from political opponents, reflects the mindset of possibilities which he has always showcased.
“As usual, many said it was not possible. They said it was an election promise that would not be fulfilled but that has been their mindset of impossibilities over the past 8 years…I was not surprised when the naysayers pooh-poohed the idea of electric vehicles. I had no doubt in my mind that this was possible. If other countries could deploy electric buses, why not Ghana?”
The commissioning marked the first phase of the electric buses initiative which will start operations on the Adenta, Ashaiman to Accra routes.
Nex year, more buses will be added to operate across the other Regions in the country.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
