by Justice Lee Adoboe
ACCRA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese automobile executive has called on African governments to empower the private sector to play a leading role in developing the continent's electric vehicle (EV) industry to drive growth in Africa's automotive sector.
Speaking to Xinhua during the three-day Ghana Investment Trade Week, which concluded in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on Thursday, Du Haotian, sales manager of Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology Co., Ltd., said private sector-led investment would accelerate EV adoption and support the long-term development of the industry.
According to Du, the priority is to cultivate market demand for EVs, noting that once a viable market is established, the rest of the EV value chain will naturally follow.
He encouraged Ghanaian businesses to invest in electric vehicle fleets for employee transportation, saying banks, mining companies, manufacturers, and other private firms could reduce fuel costs by replacing conventional staff buses with EVs.
"The private sector can also organize commercial EV car fleets. These fleets can include taxis, commercial trucks, refrigerator trucks, and logistics pickups. The real cycle begins once private companies organize these kinds of fleets," Du said.
According to Du, growing commercial demand would create opportunities for private investment in charging infrastructure, which in turn would encourage more consumers to purchase EVs.
"When investors observe the growing number of EVs in Ghana, they will recognize and seize the opportunity to invest here in more charging stations and related industries. The battery industry, the steel for the chassis, and every related industry will come in, and then a healthy and sustainable cycle of the EV industry will officially begin here," he said.
He reiterated his call for African governments to create an enabling environment through sound policies and regulatory frameworks to unlock the continent's potential for a vibrant and competitive EV industry.
Highlighting Africa's abundant renewable energy resources, Du said the continent, particularly countries such as Ghana, has significant potential to power electric mobility through solar energy.
"The solar resource here is so huge, but people are not using it properly. However, once the EV industry starts, it will provide an excellent opportunity to utilize the abundant solar energy available," he added. ■