Ghana based e-mobility company Wahu Mobility has secured fresh investment from climate focused venture capital firm Sahara Impact Ventures to accelerate its clean transport ambitions in Africa. The undisclosed round will support the expansion of Wahu’s electric bicycle platform, which targets both individual riders and fleet operators seeking affordable alternatives to petrol powered transport. The announcement comes as the startup’s flagship e-bike program receives formal recognition under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, marking a key validation of its climate impact model.
Company Background
Wahu Mobility’s origins lie in a simple retrofit concept, converting conventional bicycles into electric models that could meet Africa’s demand for low cost, low emissions transport. Over time the venture evolved into a fully fledged mobility company that designs and assembles e-bikes in Ghana, tailoring frames, batteries, and components for the continent’s varied and often harsh road conditions. The business traces its lineage to Cargo Bikes Africa, founded in 2020 by impact entrepreneur Valerie Labi, which later merged with MANA Mobility and was rebranded as Wahu to pursue a broader mobility vision.
Market Context
Labi’s mission was shaped by Ghana’s transport reality, where imported vehicles and fuel are expensive and many citizens either rely on aging second hand cars or have no practical mobility options at all. Ghana’s population is projected to rise from about 23 million in 2022 to around 50 million by 2050, a demographic shift that will strain infrastructure, increase congestion, and intensify environmental pressures if mobility patterns do not change. By positioning electric bicycles as a mainstream option, Wahu aims to improve access to transport, curb emissions from two wheelers, and open up sustainable income opportunities for riders in the gig economy.
Investment Details
The new capital from Sahara Impact Ventures will help Wahu scale production and finance additional e-bikes, supporting a long term plan to deploy more than 117,000 units across Ghana by 2030 in place of fossil fuel powered motorcycles and mopeds. Wahu’s electric bicycle program has already been officially authorized by the governments of Ghana and Switzerland under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, enabling the company to generate internationally recognized emissions reductions for the host country. Sahara’s investment team highlighted that Africa’s electric two wheeler market is forecast to grow from roughly 554.7 million dollars in 2023 to about 2.61 billion dollars by 2031, and that Ghana’s National Energy Transition Framework and incentives for EV assembly create a favorable policy environment for Wahu’s expansion.
Strategic Impact
Beyond manufacturing hardware, Wahu runs leasing and fleet programs that allow logistics firms and other businesses to switch from petrol motorcycles to electric bikes, lowering operating costs while cutting carbon emissions in their last mile operations. The company combines local assembly with technology enabled fleet management and rider support services, positioning itself as a mobility platform that can serve both individual riders and enterprise customers across African cities. Sahara Impact Ventures views the partnership as closely aligned with its impact thesis, citing Wahu’s potential to advance Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality, clean energy, decent work, and climate action while empowering more women to participate in the clean mobility value chain.
As urban congestion intensifies and transport related emissions are projected to rise steeply across Africa, Wahu Mobility’s model illustrates how locally built electric bikes can anchor a cleaner and more inclusive transport system. With new backing from Sahara Impact Ventures and formal recognition under international carbon market rules, the company is positioned to scale its footprint in Ghana and potentially in other African markets that are beginning to embrace electric two wheelers. If Wahu delivers on its deployment targets and gig economy job creation goals, its electric fleets could become a visible symbol of Africa’s shift toward greener cities and a catalyst for broader investment in climate smart mobility solutions.