President John Dramani Mahama has announced government’s plan to regulate the establishment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to prevent pressure on the country’s electricity distribution network.
Speaking at the commissioning of Zonda Tec Ghana Limited’s Assembly Plant in Tema, President Mahama said the Ministry of Energy and Green Transitions has started developing an electric vehicle policy that would provide clear guidelines for the sector.
According to the President, the growing number of charging stations requires that proper planning is put in place to ensure areas where transformers and substations lack capacity do not receive additional demand.
He said, “a few people have started establishing charging stations. If this is not regulated, it could lead to imbalances in our energy system.”
The President explained that the location of charging stations must be carefully considered based on the electricity infrastructure serving the area warning concentration of several charging facilities in communities whose power infrastructure is limited could affect electricity supply.
He said the government’s planned policy would establish a framework to guide the development of EV charging infrastructure as electric mobility gains popularity in Ghana and disclosed that the Ministry of Energy and Green Transitions would submit the proposed electric vehicle policy to Cabinet before regulations are introduced to guide businesses seeking to establish such charging stations.
President Mahama also stated government intends to promote the use of solar-powered charging stations as part of efforts to support the expansion of electricity without placing too much pressure on the national electricity grid.
The move forms part of broader efforts by government to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and support the development of Ghana’s local automotive industry.