ACEP And Solar Taxi Graduate First Cohort Of 24 Women In Green Energy Technology Program

The Africa Centre For Energy Policy (ACEP), in partnership with Solar Taxi, has graduated the first cohort of 24 young women trained under the Green Energy Technology Capacity Development Program (GET-CaDeP).

The graduation ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2026* in Accra, marking a major step toward closing the gender gap in Ghana’s clean energy and technology workforce.

GET-CaDeP was designed to build a new generation of women skilled in solar energy, electric vehicle (EV) systems, and battery technologies — sectors critical to Ghana’s renewable energy and clean mobility transition.

From Classroom To Workshop: Hands-On Training

The graduates completed a structured training programme followed by hands-on internships with Solar Taxi and other industry partners.

During the internships, the women gained practical experience in EV systems, battery assembly, diagnostics, maintenance, and solar technology applications.

Organizers say the practical exposure was key to ensuring the graduates are job-ready and can immediately contribute to Ghana’s growing green economy.

Breaking Barriers In A Male-Dominated Sector

Speaking at the ceremony, Kodzo Yaotse, ACEP Policy Lead For Petroleum And Conventional Energy, said the initiative was a deliberate response to the underrepresentation of women in Ghana’s clean energy and technical spaces.

“This programme is about creating opportunities where none existed before. You have shown courage and discipline by stepping into technical spaces long assumed to be male-dominated,” Mr. Yaotse told the graduates.

He encouraged them to see the training as just the beginning, and to aim for future roles in leadership, innovation, and energy policy.

Mr Jorge Appiah, Chief Executive Officer Of Solar Taxi, also congratulated the cohort and pledged the company’s continued support.

“We will connect you to market opportunities where you can apply your skills in EV and battery technology. This cohort is a pool of talent the sector cannot afford to overlook,” Mr. Appiah said.

Graduates Share Their Journeys

For many of the graduates, GET-CaDeP was more than just technical training — it was a turning point.

Patricia Benambah, a University Of Ghana graduate with a background in English, said the programme changed how she views engineering.

“I had always believed engineering was reserved for a certain kind of person. But this training showed me that engineering can be studied by anyone who is willing to put in the work,” she said.

Laura Awusine Nyaabire, a Senior High School leaver who had been unable to continue to university since 2017, described the programme as a lifeline.

“I now have skills in EV and battery technology that position me to participate meaningfully in Ghana’s green economy, even without tertiary education. This is an opportunity I will not waste,” she said.

Their stories reflect the program’s goal of making green technology careers accessible to women from diverse educational backgrounds.

A Model For Inclusive Energy Governance

The initiative forms part of ACEP’s broader work promoting inclusive and sustainable energy governance in Ghana*. It also highlights a growing partnership model between policy think tanks and private sector actors to address workforce gaps in the renewable energy sector.

According to ACEP and Solar Taxi, the gender gap in technical energy roles has long limited innovation and slowed the country’s transition to clean energy. By training women directly for roles in solar, EVs, and battery storage, GET-CaDeP aims to change that.

“When women are included in the design, deployment, and maintenance of energy systems, we get better solutions for households and communities,” Mr. Yaotse noted.

What’s Next For GET-CaDeP

ACEP and Solar Taxi have confirmed that *subsequent cohorts will be recruited* as part of efforts to scale the programme nationwide.

The partners say they are in talks with more industry players to expand internship placements and create direct employment pathways for graduates in solar installation, EV servicing, battery recycling, and clean energy startups.

For Solar Taxi, which operates one of Ghana’s largest e-mobility fleets, the graduates represent immediate talent for its expansion plans across Accra and other cities.

About The Partners

The Africa Centre For Energy Policy (ACEP) is a leading think tank on energy and extractive resource governance in Africa, focused on policy research, advocacy, and capacity building.

Solar Taxi is a Ghanaian e-mobility company innovating to make electric vehicles and sustainable transport more accessible and affordable.

With the graduation of this first cohort, Ghana takes another step toward a cleaner, more inclusive energy future — one powered in part by women trained to lead it.