Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Donates Ebus to Ghana Free Zones Authority
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Donates Ebus to Ghana Free Zones Authority: – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) donated an over a 58-passenger (38 seats and 20 standing) capacity electric bus (e-bus) to Ghana Free Zones Authority to promote e-mobility and green economy and also reduce our carbon footprint within the Tema Export Processing Zone on Thursday 7th December 2023.
This innovative gesture positions the Tema enclave at the forefront of environmentally sustainable transportation in an Export Processing Zone within West Africa.
The e-bus is a welcoming introduction in line with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s Government’s mobility agenda of moving away from conventional internal combustion engine systems towards a more ecological mode of transportation.
The electric bus is earmarked to be operated as a shuttle service for employees of Free Zones Enterprises and visitors in the Tema Export Processing Zone (TEPZ) and also promote #electricmobility in Ghana as best practice. The electric bus is provided under “Invest for Jobs”, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
At the Tema Export Processing Zone (TEPZ), E-mobility is part of the 3 interventions currently being implemented there aside the provision of Canteen service for workers and training of 2,000 employees of free zone enterprises.
Present at the Signing and Handing Over Ceremony were, Mr. Gerald Guskowski, Cluster coordinator and head of special initiative for training and Jobs GIZ, Ms. Dana Krieger Head of Cluster component GIZ, Dr. Prince Kwarteng, Technical Advisor GIZ and other representatives from GIZ, LMI Holdings, and Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA).
The Deputy C.E.O (F&A) of Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Mrs. Kate Abbeo disclosed the transportation challenges faced by employees in the Tema Export Processing Zone (TEPZ) while expressing her gratitude to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for this generous support, and also indicated other challenges in the TEPZ such as street lighting, and as such, the Ghana Free Zones Authority would be glad to receive continuous support from the GIZ to tackle these infrastructural challenges.
“the introduction of the electric bus (E-bus) is set to alleviate these challenges, providing a more efficient and sustainable transportation solution for the workforce within the Processing Zone”
Mrs. Kate Abbeo, Deputy C.E.O (F&A) of Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA)
Dr. Dirk Aβmann, the Country Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Ghana, indicated that the goal for providing an efficient and environmentally friendly transport solution for employees and visitors was premised on a feasibility research conducted by GIZ within the Tema Export Processing Zone (TEPZ) under which employee mobility emerged a major issue.
Dr. Dirk disclosed that his organization will continue to partner with the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) on projects to improve infrastructure and working conditions in the Tema Export Processing Zone.
Mrs. Patience Acorlor, the Director of the Tema Administrative Office assured GIZ of the Authority’s continued commitment to fully implement a successful e-mobility shuttle service for the benefit of the workers in the Tema Export Processing Zone.
