The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for the effective training of Ghanaian mechanics to service next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) being manufactured by electric vehicle technology companies.
In line with this development, the Minister has proposed the establishment of a specialised Electric Vehicle Capacity-Building Centre to train Ghanaian mechanics in the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles being sold in the Ghanaian market.
According to the Minister, the initiative has become necessary as interest in electric vehicles continues to grow globally, with countries increasingly shifting from conventional fossil-fuel-powered vehicles to cleaner alternatives.
He said Ghana must begin preparing its technical workforce for the emerging EV industry by equipping mechanics with the specialised knowledge and skills required to diagnose, maintain and repair electric vehicles.
The Minister made the proposal in an interview with journalists after touring the showroom and operations of Lonking, a Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles, as part of his official engagements in China.
He stressed the need for a concerted national effort to define an appropriate space for the electric-vehicle industry in Ghana, including the development of the human capital required to support its growth.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah also suggested that China, which has emerged as a global leader in electric vehicle manufacturing and technology, could play an important role in supporting Ghana’s efforts to build local EV technical capacity.
China’s Electric Truck Revolution
China’s rapid development of electric vehicles is no longer limited to passenger cars.
One of the country’s significant developments is the growing adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks, particularly in ports, mines, factories and short-haul freight operations.
The shift represents a major change in a sector that has traditionally depended heavily on diesel-powered trucks.
Recent industry data indicate that electric heavy trucks accounted for about 44 per cent of new heavy-truck sales in China in June 2026, although they represented only about 4 per cent of the country’s total heavy-truck fleet.
New-energy heavy-truck sales have also been expanding rapidly, particularly in the mining industry globally.
Management of Lonking said the development presents an opportunity that the company intends to leverage to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving EV market.
Already, reports indicate that sales increased by about 45 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching approximately 44,000 units.
For Ghana, the Minister said developments in the sector could be particularly relevant to the mining, haulage and logistics industries, where heavy-duty vehicles play a critical role in moving minerals, equipment and other commodities.
Battery Swapping Driving Growth
One of the technologies helping China accelerate the adoption of electric heavy trucks is battery swapping.
Rather than keeping a truck stationary for hours while a large battery is recharged, the vehicle can drive into a specialised battery-swapping station, where an automated system removes the depleted battery and replaces it with a fully charged one.
The system can significantly reduce vehicle downtime, an important consideration for commercial operators whose trucks are expected to remain in service for extended periods.
China’s enormous manufacturing capacity for lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles has also given its manufacturers access to advanced technologies and well-developed supply chains, while Ghana has emerged as one of the newer markets for the technology.
Longer Range, Wider Applications
The capabilities of electric heavy trucks are also improving rapidly.
Newer Chinese models can travel hundreds of kilometres on a single charge, although actual range varies depending on factors such as payload, terrain, weather and driving conditions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates the current average range of battery-electric trucks at around 300 kilometres, making short-haul operations one of the strongest early markets for the technology.
China’s approach, however, goes beyond manufacturing the vehicles.
The country is simultaneously developing the charging infrastructure, battery-swapping stations and supporting ecosystem required to make electric trucks commercially viable.
For Ghana, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah said China’s growing experience presents an opportunity to learn from a rapidly developing EV market while preparing local mechanics, engineers and other technical professionals for the transition.
The proposed capacity-building centre, he said, could therefore become an important component of Ghana’s preparations for the emerging electric-mobility industry, ensuring that the country does not only import electric vehicles but also develops the skills and technical expertise needed to maintain them locally.
