Uber Celebrates 6 Years Of Innovative Mobility Solutions In Ghana

Six years ago, Uber hit the streets of Ghana and is now helping thousands of riders get rides across Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Takoradi, celebrating its contribution to local economic growth and empowerment.

Increasing economic access through digital entrepreneurship

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Uber ran a three-month competition for drivers who use the Uber app in Ghana to find and reward the top six performing drivers. Each driver received a 43-inch Nasco TV, a GHS400 fuel voucher, and Melcom shopping vouchers for GHS1,000. Congratulations to Appiah Samuel Ohemeng, Kemevor Divine, Justice Attigah, Bimpeh Prosper, Edimah Peter, and Tetteh Edmund, who are some drivers who emerged as winners in the competition.

While digital entrepreneurship is flourishing in Ghana, with over 60 digital platforms offering unique earning opportunities, Uber understands that access to finance to grow these independent businesses remains a challenge. This is why Uber has worked to increase access to car ownership for drivers through its partnership with Moove, a vehicle solutions company where drivers have access to flexible rental and drive-to-own options.

Marjorie Saint-Lot, country manager for Uber in Ghana and Ivory Coast, explains, "Drivers are at the heart of our operations, and we succeed when they succeed. We are aware that several other economic factors, including fuel price increases, impact the cost of moving people and goods. We take drivers' concerns seriously and actively engage on issues which impact their business."

"In January, we lowered our service fee to 20%, followed by a trip fare increase across Kumasi and Accra to maximize earnings for drivers using the platform. Our commitment to them is to continuously find ways of maximizing their earning potential while meeting the needs of riders," Saint-Lot adds.

Uber has also launched new product offerings such as Uber Connect, a peer-to-peer delivery option. Uber has witnessed a growing number of small businesses using this option to improve customer service reliability.

Meet those behind the wheel

Drivers in Ghana are excited about what Uber has to offer. It's not just about creating economic opportunities for individuals but also helping drivers build their small businesses. Alexander Nii Bortey, a driver in Ghana, who, before driving on the Uber app, had been out of work for some time, says that Uber came as a flexible opportunity for him to make money. A year later, he is still enjoying it. "Driving on the platform has helped me a lot. I have a family, and I need to put food on the table and take care of them. It was tough to make ends meet before I joined, but since I started driving on the Uber app, I have been able to do this consistently while still making time for my family", says Bortey.

Kojo Blaise, who has been driving on the Uber platform, says he has gained a lot of exposure and met many different people he has learned from, and they, too, have learned from him. He further adds, "The Uber platform is secure because of safety features such as the 'Verify Your Ride' option, which provides an extra layer of protection to ensure that the rider gets into the right vehicle with the right driver."