Car sales leads the pack in online trading in Ghana

...and fuels optimism about benefits of Internet penetration

Market analysts have observed an impressive performance in the sale of second hand cars on classified websites like tonaton.com during the first half of the year. This has reinforced confidence in online as an emerging platform for trading in second hand goods in Ghana.


The increase in Internet usage is a result of the high levels of penetration in recent years. People are now looking at online classifieds as a viable platform for trading in second hand items. Internet penetration in Ghana is currently pegged at 14% up from 10% in 2010. (Source: International Telecommunications Union, Measuring the Information Society Report, 2012)


Statistics reveal that some of the biggest items for online trading are vehicles, mobile phones and properties. These three categories reveal a total trading value of about GHc 734, 628, 000 in Quarter 2, 2013. Statistics reveal that advertisements for second hand cars take up about 17% of ads posted in the biggest online classified website in Ghana. (Source: Tonaton.com)


The biggest second hand trading cities for cars in Ghana include Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi.

***Brands used include Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, VW, Mercedes, Ford, Mitsubishi, BMW and Nissan


Accra serves as the main trading hub for cars with a trading value of about GHc177, 352, 000.00. Prices of cars are evenly spread across all markets in Ghana with Sekondi -Takoradi having a slightly more expensive car market. The second hand car market has more flexibility in terms of bargains due to the high levels of competition by several brands. For instance, the average price of a used car in Accra is pegged at an average price of GHc25, 500 but a buyer could get the same car for GHc23, 000 in Kumasi on Tonaton.com. There is a wide variety of car brands selling at competitive prices on Tonaton.com. The rich and affluent can also purchase either a sporty Range Rover or Infinity on the site as well.


“Private persons have an unusual opportunity to take advantage of this record peak in the sale of cars online. That five-year old car sitting in the garage at home may not seem so exciting to you anymore but to someone out there, it may be a dream come true” said Kwabena Opoku-Boakye, Marketing Manager for Tonaton.com.


“The use of online as a commercial platform is still relatively new in Ghana. Based on the numbers we are seeing after the launch of Tonaton.com in April 2013, the trend is growing at a very fast rate. With more Ghanaians opting for free online classifieds sites like Tonaton.com; it has become the ideal platform for trading of vehicles. With this growing trend, online classifieds will become a key platform for people to visit when purchasing a car,” he added.