“Breaking Barriers: Solar Taxi’s Pioneering Approach to Electric Mobility and Women’s Empowerment”

Story by Fada Amakye

Jorge Appiah, CEO of Solar Taxi, is on a mission to revolutionize transportation in Ghana and Africa, while promoting women’s empowerment and economic growth.

Speaking on the sidelines of a recent event, Appiah shared the company’s inspiring story, from innovating electric mobility solutions to creating jobs and opportunities for women. In 2018, Solar Taxi embarked on a journey to make transportation more affordable, and in the process, discovered a glaring gap in the value chain: women.

“We realized there were no women in the value chain,” Appiah said, explaining that the company decided to take matters into its own hands. Using its own funding, Solar Taxi launched the Film Engineering Academy, a program designed to train women as engineers, despite their lack of prior experience.

The results have been remarkable, with women now playing a key role in Solar Taxi’s operations, from design to assembly, and even engineering. Appiah proudly shared the story of a woman who joined the program, and is now a valued member of the team, defying societal expectations.

Appiah’s message is clear: electric mobility is not just about cleaner energy, but an economic opportunity for Africa to partake in. “We need to create jobs, build our economy, and transform the lives of many young people who are out there looking for jobs,” he said.

Solar Taxi’s vision is to promote skills development, local manufacturing, and recycling, creating a thriving ecosystem that benefits millions of Ghanaians and Africans. Appiah urged policymakers to focus on policies that support this green revolution, rather than just consuming vehicles.

“We see this as a paradigm shift,” Appiah said, emphasizing the need to break away from business as usual and seize the economic opportunities presented by electric mobility.