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William Nana Acheampong set for the emerging EV market with multipurpose charging station
William Nana Acheampong
Electric vehicles (EV) are currently on high demand globally and one of the emerging markets is Ghana, with many beginning to shift attention to its usage.
One challenge however has been charging stations for the vehicles especially when it becomes very dominant in the country.
In addressing the challenge, 20-year-old student of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) William Nana Acheampong, has taken a huge step in designing a multipurpose solar-powered charging station which would soon take the EV industry by storm.
Nana Acheampong is currently partnering with the EV Founders, Sabrina Mensah Bonsu and Fouad Nadine to develop the stations in Ghana and possibly across the globe.
The groundbreaking innovation attracted the attention of EV Founders after Nana Acheampong made a presentation at a recently held EV conference in Ghana.
Hopefully within a year, with the right investments, the charging stations would be commissioned in Ghana and set for the EV market.
The Journey
After completing GHANATA Senior High School (SHS) in 2021, Nana Acheampong in his desperation to look for a job and take care of himself through school, he landed at KFC in Osu where he served as a cashier.
The last born of five was eager to attain tertiary education since none of his siblings furthered their education due to financial challenges.
He later gained admission to the AUCC and combined education with working at the KFC, before joining the delivery business after quitting his first job.
Nana Acheampong then began using an electric bike from Wahu Mobility and engaged in the delivery business with Glovo and currently with Bolt.
Using the electric bike, Nana Acheampong noticed that there were no electric charging stations around and had to charge from home and go back when it runs down, which was affecting his business.
The idea of creating a charging station to ensure comfort for people using electric bikes was birthed, since it was very expensive to import one into the country.
His association with Bolt was the beginning of greater things to happen when he chanced upon the Bolt Acceleration Programme aimed at empowering a dynamic group of Ghanaian entrepreneurs to transform their bold ideas linked to sustainable transport to life.
With no technical background as he studied General Arts in SHS and after research and sleepless nights, he managed to design the charging station using the Nema 14-50 outlet and presented his idea at the pitching session which had over 100 people under the bolt programme.
The multipurpose charging station which has a shelter and a booth or kiosk for swiping, would be used for charging cars, bikes, scooters and even electronic gadgets. It is currently the only designed multipurpose charging station in Ghana and perhaps the continent.
His design eventually won the Most Innovative Idea at the 2024 Bolt Acceleration Programme and rewarded 2000 Euros and a certificate.
Nana Acheampong is currently looking for substantial funding to officially build the charging stations across the country and welcoming investors.
“This is an innovation from Ghana which must be supported. In most cases, persons in the diaspora are those paying attention to these innovations but Ghanaians and Africans must begin to invest in their own,” he stated.
“Young people have great ideas but do not have the support to develop same which is very demoralizing. For example, China the fastest growing economy in terms of EV has most of the innovators championed by young people and receiving funds from investors. This could be replicated in Ghana which would help the innovation space as Ghana is looking forward to going into the EV market which would contribute addressing climate change,” he stressed.
“It is high time the young people are allowed to contribute to development. Ghana is moving to a more electronic future which cost efficient and promote environmental sustainability as compared to fuel vehicles,” he added.
Nana Acheampong is also looking forward to creating shops that would sell EV parts since there is none currently in Ghana.
He expressed appreciation to Bolt for the support and exposure and urged other young people to take advantage of such initiatives.
Nana Acheampong enjoys cool moments at the beach alone, listening to music, sharing drinks and good moments with friends.
Jollof is his go-to food but loves banku with grilled tilapia. He is a Christian with the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Zoe Temple, Tema Community 5.
He urged young people not to give up but continue chasing their dreams, find ways to improve their skills so they would excel when the opportunities come.
By Michael D. Abayateye & Jemima E. Kuatsinu
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Richard Appiah, the footballer who killed two children and stored part of their bodies in a fridge at Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021 has been handed a lifetime sentence.
This was after a five member panel of judges at the Accra High Court returned a verdict of guilty against the convict.
Appiah, 32, also a draughtsman would spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of murder.
More more more
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
