Vice President Bawumia Launches “Go Ride” to Boost Earnings for Ghanaian Taxi Drivers

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia unveiled Ghana’s new digital ride-hailing platform, “Go Ride,” on Wednesday, a milestone aimed at enhancing opportunities for local taxi drivers. The app, tailored for Ghanaian drivers, particularly those under the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), provides an online platform to connect with passengers, similar to global services like Uber, Bolt, and Yango.

“Go Ride” is the result of a strategic public-private partnership led by the Ghanaian government under Vice President Bawumia. In his address at the launch event in Accra, Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the platform offers a competitive commission rate of 10% for drivers, significantly lower than the rates charged by foreign ride-hailing services. This reduced commission aims to increase drivers' earnings and improve their livelihoods.

Additionally, Dr. Bawumia noted that “Go Ride” includes welfare benefits for local drivers, with insurance and pension schemes built into the platform. He described the initiative as a step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable transport system in Ghana, bridging gaps between the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

“This is a symbol of empowerment, innovation, and national pride, demonstrating our commitment to leveraging digital technology for inclusive growth,” Dr. Bawumia stated. He emphasized that the platform would help secure sustainable livelihoods and a dignified future for Ghanaian taxi drivers.

Dr. Bawumia also pointed out that digital infrastructure like the Ghana Card, QR Code, Digital Address System, and Ghana.Gov were foundational to boosting private-sector growth and fostering economic development. He referenced the global success of companies like Uber, valued at $163 billion, and expressed optimism that Ghana could play a significant role in the global digital landscape, using technology to drive economic growth, job creation, and wealth.

The Vice President indicated that the Go Ride app could soon be exported to other African nations, potentially creating a new revenue stream for Ghana.

Deputy Minister of Transport Hassan Tampuli described the app as a transformative tool for economic advancement, predicting stable financial conditions for local taxi drivers. Addressing recent calls from some driver unions for increased transport fares, Mr. Tampuli argued that such requests were unwarranted, given Ghana’s comparatively low fuel prices in the sub-region, and encouraged stakeholders in the transport sector to back the initiative.

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