Written by Albert Oppong-Ansah with contributions from Andrea Reiter

For 19-year-old Nathaniel Apronti, who dreams of training as a teacher, the path toward that goal comes with two wheels, powered by electricity. After weighing his options, including working as a shop attendant, Nathaniel chose to join the Wahu Mobility’s e-bike riders.

Wahu Mobility is a Ghanaian start-up, 100% rooted in Ghana, envisioning the deployment of approximately 117,000 e-bikes across the country by 2030. The e-bike business aims to create green and sustainable job opportunities, while addressing the needs of Ghana’s rapidly expanding gig economy – a sector rich with potential due to high youth unemployment and the growth of digital platforms such as ride-hailing and delivery services.

Wahu promises a bike designed for ease of delivery and energy efficiency, while boosting local businesses. It is primarily tailored for independent gig workers and delivery services, helping to displace the number of fuel-powered motorcycles on Ghana’s roads. In doing so, this business model contributes to lowering GHG emissions from Ghana’s largest emission producing sector, the transport sector, and ultimately improving air quality nationwide.

With his decision to work as part of the Wahu movement, Nathaniel now earns a steady income by delivering food for companies such as Yango and Bolt. "Funds from my parents cannot support my dream, but riding an e-bike has become my lifeline," he said. "I earn an average of GHS 170 a day after paying my daily charge to Wahu. Part of that goes into savings for my own education, and the rest supports my brother who is in school."

A great deal of effort has been put into developing the right business model to ensure a successful implementation and public acceptance of the e-bikes. Nathaniel appreciates Wahu’s tailored road safety training for their riders. The supply of a helmet and additional protective gear not only gives him the confidence to navigate the streets of Accra in pursuit of his daily work and dreams but also ensures he returns home safely to his family.

Wahu e-bikes specifically fit the needs of the Ghanaian market and have proven its viability based on a pilot fleet. As part of the concept, Wahu Mobility provides access to locally manufactured, easy to handle e-bikes with a mid-drive motor, mechanical gears, and hydraulic suspension. The bike’s hardware is complemented by a state-of-the-art software stack. To load the e-bike batteries, they can be plugged in at home at standard power outlets.

Nathaniel mentions that charging his e-bike costs just GHS 50 a week, which he describes as "very economical" as compared to the costs for driving an internal combustion bike. Equipped with a backup battery, he can complete his deliveries efficiently. "I have signed up for an 18-month lease-to-own contract. When it ends, I will own the bike, either to rent it out for extra income or use it when I start school," Nathaniel explained with pride.

The Wahu movement can play a crucial role in tackling unemployment in Ghana. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, youth unemployment remains consistently higher than the national average. In 2024, the unemployment rate stood at about 32 percent among people aged 15 to 24, and 22.5 percent for those between 15 and 35.

By creating new jobs, Wahu aims to make a tangible difference for both unskilled and skilled workers, reducing unemployment and improving livelihoods. Its growth within Ghana’s emerging gig economy is expected to reshape the world of work. A certain part of the jobs at Wahu are highly specialized – offering job opportunities in the form of e-bike manufacturing and final assembly to software configuration, battery testing, logistics, e-commerce management, and mechanical engineering.

The rider Georgina Darling joined Wahu Mobility after being introduced by a fellow female rider who shared how the business had eased her financial struggles. "My income now is higher than in my previous job," she said. Georgina works eight hours daily, earning about GHS 250 a day after statutory deductions. "My salary supports all my needs and helps pay for my brother’s education, easing the burden on my single mother."

Wahu e-bikes offer a practical advantage for women. They don’t require a driver’s license, making it easier and more accessible for women, facing less bureaucratic hurdles when entering the job market – especially for young women and students. The user-friendly design, pedal assist, and throttle features offer a safe and less physically demanding alternative to traditional motorcycles which are typically bulkier and heavier.

To encourage women to participate, Wahu is actively building partnerships with NGOs, civil society organisations, and government programmes focused on women’s empowerment and vocational training. Through these collaborations, Wahu aims to expand outreach, deliver training opportunities, and develop financing solutions tailored for female riders.

Internally, Wahu is committed to gender equity in its workforce. Currently, women constitute approximately 46% of its staff. It wants to ensure fair female representation, thereby contributing to empowering women in areas such as manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and management.

Nathaniel and Georgina are among the first of thousands of youths to sign up under Wahu’s plan to deploy around 117,000 e-bikes across Ghana within the next five years.

Wahu Mobility gets financial support to achieve its ambitious targets through an international carbon market mechanism. With the introducing of e-bikes that will displace the use of fossil-fuel motorcycles in Ghana, the project will reduce a measurable, yearly monitored amount of GHG emissions. It is among twelve projects in Ghana, mainly facilitated by the KliK Foundation under the Ghana–Switzerland bilateral climate agreement and valued at up to $1.0 billion (including estimated total amount of direct investments triggered through the implementation of the projects and including the expected carbon revenues from the KliK Foundation).

With the sale of the verified carbon credits to the KliK Foundation, Wahu Mobility can therewith secure the necessary financing for its scale-up. It’s carbon credit deal with the KliK Foundation marks the second authorised global e-mobility transaction under the Article 6 carbon market mechanism of the Paris Agreement and the first in Africa.

Ms. Valerie Labi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wahu Mobility, explained that the e-bikes will be manufactured at the Wahu factory in Accra. Each e-bike is built with enhanced safety features, mirrors, brake lights, loud horns, and suspension systems. All the components and technical capabilities for service and repair will be readily available at many partner outlets across the country. The company not only provides mandatory onboarding training, as Nathaniel mentioned, but periodic refresher sessions, and in-app safety tips.

"Unsafe behaviours like overspeeding or harsh braking are flagged through real-time tracking and addressed using a digital safety score and feedback system," Valerie explained. Wahu also embeds accident and health insurance in its rider subscription model, a rarity in many gig-economy ventures. Its lease-to-own approach enables riders to eventually own their e-bikes, creating a pathway to asset ownership and financial independence.

For Mr. Desmond Appiah, Country Lead of the Clean Air Fund, a global philanthropic organisation working with governments, funders, businesses and campaigners to create a future where everyone breathes clean air, e-bikes symbolise progress toward cleaner cities and healthier communities. He noted that air pollution remains one of Ghana’s deadliest public health threats, claiming over 32,000 lives in 2023, nearly 14 percent of all deaths in the country and the number one public health threat in Ghana (according to the State of Global Air Report 2025).

"If air pollution kills that many people, we must act. Initiatives like Wahu’s will make a meaningful difference," Mr. Appiah added. He urged the Government to take bold action by ensuring that road infrastructure designs strictly include dedicated e-bike lanes and walkways. He further recommended that local governments lead the charge, working closely with initiatives like Wahu Mobility and other partners to phase out two-stroke engines and create dedicated e-zones where the model can thrive.

Mr. Daniel Essel, Director at the Ministry of Transport, called the introduction of e-bikes "a game changer." "Most traditional motorbikes use two-stroke engines that emit harmful gases because they lack catalytic converters," he said. "E-bikes directly support Ghana’s National Electric Vehicle Policy and the National Energy Transition Plan (2022–2070)." The policy, he pointed out, emphasizes safety, fairness, circular economy principles, battery recycling, and inclusivity.

The Wahu e-bikes project will be implemented in accordance with (i) Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, (ii) the Nationally Determined Contribution of Ghana (Ghana’s NDC), and (iii) the bilateral climate agreement between Ghana and Switzerland. Emission reductions from this initiative are on Ghana’s whitelist for carbon markets. This means that while the sale of ITMOs, Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes, enables the large-scale introduction of e-bikes in Ghana, these reductions will be credited to Switzerland’s NDC. However, the long-term climate benefits ultimately serve Ghana.

From the bustling streets of Accra to smaller towns, the hum of electric bikes now represents more than mobility, it is the sound of climate action, innovation, and empowerment. For young people like Nathaniel and Georgina, these wheels are not just a mode of transport, but a vehicle for independence, cleaner air, and a sustainable future.