The Energy Commission of Ghana has engaged key stakeholders in Tamale on draft regulations to guide the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and battery swap systems in the country.
The engagement, which brought together actors within the energy value chain, formed part of efforts to finalise a regulatory framework to ensure safety, technical standards, and alignment with international best practices, while promoting private sector participation in Ghana’s emerging EV ecosystem.
The draft regulations, developed in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority, seek to establish minimum standards across the EV value chain including manufacturing, importation, installation, operation, and ownership.
They cover four key areas including residential charging infrastructure, public and commercial charging networks, workplace charging, and safety and public protection.
Under the proposed framework, residential EV charging systems would be standardised and registered while importers and sellers of EV charging equipment and battery swap systems would be required to obtain licences.
Operators of public charging stations and battery swap services would also be licensed, with electricians mandated to undergo certification before installing such systems.
Ms Joyce Ocansey, Assistant Manager for the Drive Electric Programme at the Commission, speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the engagement, said the sensitisation exercise was a follow-up to earlier consultations held in 2022.
She explained that the engagement had become necessary due to the increasing adoption of EVs in Ghana emphasizing need to safeguard the national power grid, ensure public safety, and protect consumers.
She said “Although Ghana may not yet be fully prepared for large-scale EV adoption, the country is taking proactive steps to promote a sustainable transition, especially in the two and three-wheeler transport sector.”
Ms Ocansey noted that a 2025 market study had identified several business opportunities within the EV space including the establishment of charging stations, operation of battery swap services, and manufacturing of EV components.
She said the sector was expected to be largely driven by private investment, with government providing an enabling environment through policy direction, regulatory support, and strategic initiatives such as a national charging map and grid impact studies.
Ms Ocansey highlighted the environmental benefits of the transition, indicating that Ghana’s transport sector accounted for nearly 50 per cent of emissions.
She said shifting to electric vehicles, especially when powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and related health risks.
The draft regulations, which are yet to be laid before Parliament, are also aligned with Ghana’s climate goals including plans to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2070.
The Commission expressed optimism that the regulations would strengthen the EV ecosystem, enhance safety, and position Ghana towards a cleaner and more resilient transport future.
Dr Godwin Kafui Kwesi Ayetor, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and consultant on the draft regulation, noted that the world was transitioning to green systems through electric vehicles, and that, it was imperative for Ghana to adopt a well-regulated system..