Ghana partners UK to launch Pioneering Battery Swapping Network, Paving the Way for Cleaner Mobility Across West Africa

In a landmark move to drive the energy transition and decarbonize the transport sector, the Ghanaian government has teamed up with the UK government and other private sector partners to launch a pioneering battery-swapping network across the country.

The initiative, led by Ghanaian startup KOFA Technologies and supported by UK-based energy transition investor Pash Global, as well as the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Shell Foundation, aims to provide clean and affordable energy access to thousands of motorcycle users and small businesses in Ghana.

“This pioneering initiative delivered through KOFA Technologies and Pash Global will provide a clean alternative to fossil fuel and create many jobs and new business opportunities,” said Lord Collins, the UK’s Minister for Africa, during the launch event in Accra.

The battery swapping network, which will see the deployment of over 100 stations and 6,000 batteries in the next 12-18 months, is a crucial step in Ghana’s efforts to reduce emissions from the transport sector, which accounts for up to 40% of the country’s total emissions.

“We did so because we had in mind that we could not do it alone. We did so because the signal to the international community that we need a support in terms of funding and also in terms of human capacity, through innovation, through research,” said the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, highlighting Ghana’s commitment to the energy transition.

The project also marks the launch of the Sankore call for proposals, a £2 million fund established by the UK government in partnership with Ghana and Nigeria, aimed at strengthening technology and innovation across West Africa.

“This funding will allow us to go further and faster. We will launch over 100 battery swap stations with over 6,000 batteries over the next 12 to 18 months, and this will allow us to deliver power to over 2,000 motorcycle users and over 400 small businesses to access clean and affordable energy to power their needs,” said Eric Nygaard, CEO of KOFA Technologies.

The battery swapping model, which allows users to quickly swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones, is expected to not only reduce emissions but also provide a more affordable and reliable energy solution for Ghana’s growing urban population.

“This project is not just about Clean Energy, it’s about empowering small businesses and micro entrepreneurs who depend on affordable and reliable transportation and Power Solutions to make a living,” said Kofi Owusu Bempa, CEO of Pash Global.

The successful launch of the battery swapping network in Ghana is seen as a blueprint for replicating the model across West Africa, as the region seeks to harness the power of innovation and partnership to drive the clean energy transition.

By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh