Uber partners regulators to address concerns of taxi drivers
Technology transport company, Uber Ghana, has begun talks with policymakers and regulators in the country aimed at addressing the concerns of traditional taxi drivers about its business model.
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The talks are expected to lead to an amicable solution on how Uber, a transport service provider, and taxi drivers can operate without frictions.
Earlier, taxi drivers complained that Uber’s ability to offer cheaper fares to passengers was because their vehicles, unlike other commercial vehicles, were not subjected to some levies and taxes.
This, the drivers said, was unfair since it gave Uber an undue advantage.
The Uber’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Alon Lits, said at a press briefing in Accra that the concern was one of the reasons why he was in the country.
“We have been in the country for the last few days to have these discussions to ensure that there is a clear licensing for driver-partners using the application,” he said at the August 31 press conference.
He added that the company valued regulations and believed in creating a level playing field for players in the transport industry.
“By now, I know that you think Uber does not care about regulations but we believe that there should be a level playing field. We think that there should not be different treatments for driver-partners who are making use of the technology and taxi drivers,” he said.
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He also reiterated the company’s commitment to partnering with taxi drivers to use the application or ensure a healthy competition to improve the industry.
“We are committed to engaging with the taxi drivers, coming to their level and relaying more information about the company and how we really operate to improve the industry and make sure that the competition is healthy and everyone can win.”
“We are confident in moving forward and we are committed in Ghana,” he added.
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Competitive prices
Mr Lits said the company did not believe that prices should be regulated by the government.
He explained that it would be an inconvenience to the consumers as they would be forced to pay prices that they were not ready for.
“This just means that you as a consumer will suffer because you are forced to pay more and we believe that Uber provides an alternative to car ownership in the country,” he said.
He added that the company had made pricing affordable to aid people without cars to go around the city and also ensure convenience.
He said, “It could be more affordable to Uber around the city than it is to have your own car. It is not about competing prices with taxi drivers but this is about making the industry bigger than it was before
so that it is big enough for taxi drivers and new ventures to enter the city with their own pricing”.
Uber launches in Kumasi
Just as the company launched in Accra a year ago, it had been considering moves to be present in the other big cities of the country and gradually crawling into the other regions.
The company realised that Kumasi had a higher demand in using Uber services and then began moves to incorporate the various towns into the application.
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Now, people based in Kumasi can use an Uber around town with equally affordable prices.
The Country Manager for Uber Ghana, Mr Kofi Agyare ,announced that Uber could not travel from Accra to Kumasi or vice versa but just operated in both vicinities. — GB