Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has stated that individuals and companies must obtain approval from the Energy Commission before establishing electric vehicle charging stations in the country.
The directive comes as Ghana takes steps to formalise its electric mobility ecosystem, following the approval of a dedicated tariff of GH¢2.016 per kilowatt hour for commercial EV charging stations, which takes effect from April 1.
Although interest in electric vehicles is growing, the country currently has only a limited number of commercial and private charging stations, despite estimates suggesting there are more than 177,000 electric vehicles in operation.
Speaking before Parliament’s Assurance Committee on March 24, 2026, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor explained that while the Ministry of Transport oversees transportation, the Ministry of Energy is responsible for managing electricity supply and ensuring grid stability.
He noted that the increasing use of electric vehicles is placing additional demand on the power system, particularly in urban areas.
According to Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, a Legislative Instrument developed by the Energy Commission makes it mandatory for operators to secure approval before setting up charging stations.
He stressed that the requirement is necessary to allow proper planning for electricity demand, infrastructure capacity, and pricing structures.
Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor added that authorities must assess whether existing infrastructure, including transformers, can support new charging stations before they are connected to the national grid.
He explained that the regulation is intended to prevent localised spikes in electricity consumption and ensure that the grid can accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles without compromising reliability.