Taxi drivers in Ghana accuse Uber of 'killing the work'

pulse-ghana admin

April 21, 2017 8:51 PM

According tothe Committed Drivers Association of Ghana, the emergence of Uber has led to significant dip in sales of taxi drivers across the country especially in the capital Accra.

Taxi drivers in Ghana have accused the ride-hailing service of destroying their businesses. According to Francis Appiah, Public Relations Officer of the Committed Drivers Association of Ghana, the emergence of Uber has led to significant dip in sales of taxi drivers across the country especially in the capital Accra.

Uber has been operating in Ghana for a year and unlike other ride-hailing apps, it appears to be gaining ground in Ghana.

“The Uber service is killing the work of taxi drivers in Ghana. Because they know as foreigners they would not be able to engage in this kind of work in Ghana, some Ghanaians fronted for them to enable them gain access to the local market,” says Francis Appiah in an interview with Accra-based Class FM.

READ ALSO: Invincible Forces go on rampage, lock Zabzugu NHIS office“They don’t pay income tax, they don’t pay for embossments, but we the taxi drivers do pay. Taxi drivers also possess AMA embossment licences and stickers, but they [Uber taxis] don’t have them. Again, because they mostly use private cars to do their business, the insurance they pay is much lower than what the commercial drivers pay.

Even the use of private cars is against the road traffic regulations, but everybody is watching as they violate the law. Today as we speak, when you go to Tanzania, Uber has killed taxi drivers’ businesses and even in the United States where they come from, they are gradually killing the taxi business”, he adds.

Taxi drivers in Ghana are the first to accuse Uber of undercutting prices. Across many European and American cities such as London, Paris and New York, drivers have been leading demonstrations and strikes against the service.

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pulse-ghana admin