The Car Rental Association of Ghana (CRAG) is calling on the government to back a major transition in the country’s transport and tourism industry by investing GH¢10 million in a reform package that would push the sector toward greener, safer, and more efficient operations.
The proposal, presented during a high-level meeting with Tourism Minister Ablah Dzifa Gomashie in Accra on Tuesday, outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at transforming the sector into a modern, eco-conscious, and digitally integrated arm of Ghana’s tourism infrastructure.
CRAG President, Mr. Michael Sarpong, emphasized the need for immediate support, including soft loans, tax incentives, VAT relief, import duty waivers for electric vehicles, and a 30% corporate tax rebate for operators who transition at least 40% of their fleets to green vehicles.
“Our guests are increasingly using electric vehicles. The global market is shifting, and we must shift with it,” Sarpong stated, adding that such an investment would reduce Ghana’s fuel dependency and cut emissions.
The Association is also advocating for mandatory certification and training of drivers to enhance road safety and boost the confidence of tourists who rely on car rental services. Mr. Sarpong warned that the lack of standardized regulation, unsafe vehicles, and poor driving standards were hampering the country’s tourism potential and contributing to rising accident rates.
CRAG’s modernization blueprint includes the rollout of a smart mobility platform to enhance transparency and streamline operations through digital tracking, booking, and monitoring tools.
Beyond operational efficiency, Mr. Sarpong said the reforms would increase government tax revenue through formalisation of the sector, while helping to brand Ghana as a tourist-friendly destination.
Minister Gomashie lauded the Association’s forward-looking proposals and affirmed her Ministry’s readiness to engage with the Ministry of Finance and other key stakeholders to explore viable policy responses.
She acknowledged CRAG’s critical role in tourism job creation and encouraged the Association to leverage its fleet for national branding by decorating vehicles with Ghanaian tourist site visuals to promote domestic attractions.
“This is not just about car rentals. It’s about promoting Ghana, reducing pollution, and creating jobs,” she noted. “Let’s use every moving vehicle as a billboard for Ghana.”
The meeting signals a renewed partnership between the state and private operators in Ghana’s tourism transport sector, with hopes that strategic reforms will position the country competitively in the green tourism economy.
