Former President John Kufuor (3rd left) and Ms. Dapaah (3rd right) launching the bikes
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor yesterday launched ‘EcoRide’, the official new trade name for locally-made bamboo bicycles in Accra.
The EcoRide, which costs GH¢800, is manufactured by Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiatives (GBBI), a social enterprise.
In a speech, the ex-President appealed to government and Civil Society Organizations to promote the use of bicycles in Ghana.
According to him, while there was huge patronage of bicycles in other African countries such as Burkina Faso and Togo, the level of bicycles usage in Ghana was low.
He blamed the situation on the nature of the roads in the country, saying “our roads haven’t been planned well.”
He explained how the riding of bikes could offer both commercial and physical benefits for persons.
Manufacturers have proven that entrepreneurship and leadership could combine to transform our society, he pointed out.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GBBI, Bernice Dapaah, said her outfit began the production of the bamboo bicycles about eight years ago in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.
According to her, GBBI, has since its inception, has exported about 1,000 bicycles to Netherlands, USA, Israel and other European countries.
She indicated that within the next two years, GBBI, a social enterprise, shall set up its own plant to manufacture its materials instead of importing steel and other parts of the bikes from overseas.
Currently, she said about 75 percent of the materials used for the manufacture of EcoRide bikes were bamboos and 25 percent steel.
She indicated that GBBI had been able to provide employment to about 40 youth and hopes to employ more people in the years ahead.
Ms. Dapaah said the African Bikes Contribution Foundation, a USA-based organization, had pledged to purchase 200 of the bikes monthly for school-going children.
Meanwhile, 10 of the bikes were donated to students from schools at Akatsi in the Volta region.
BY Melvin Tarlue