The members of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) are high in hopes that the new GoRide App will resuscitate their taxi business which almost collapsed following the introduction of the foreign ride-hailing apps.
With the advent of these ride-hailing apps, customers or commuters can stay in the comfort of their homes and order a ride to pick them up to their destination without any stress. This really threatened the businesses of local taxi operators who are just stationed at specific joints.
The penetration of these ride-hailing apps was met with fierce opposition by local taxi drivers who on several occasions clashed with drivers of either Bolt, Yango or Uber. Taxi drivers for years have been complaining that the demand for taxi services has drastically reduced leading to dwindling profitability.
To address the situation through a public-private partnership, Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has unveiled an indigenous ride-hailing app named GoRide to support local taxi drivers. Launching the app last week, Dr. Bawumia touted the app as ‘game-changing” and “revolutionary”.
Following the launch, the main users of the platform, the GPRTU have welcomed the app. Speaking to The High Street Journal in an interview, Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, Abbas Moro Ibrahim noted that the Union is full of optimism that the app will pump some fresh blood into the taxi business to give it some lifeline.
He mentioned that taxi drivers whose businesses were on the line now have an opportunity to revive their business as the app offers dual service allowing the old system of taxing and the new system to work simultaneously.
“Currently, the ancient taxi business has collapsed because most people will just order the vehicle from their houses or anywhere at all they deem necessary. We are stuck in the stations so it has reduced the strength of our work. With this GoRide which we are going to use will still allow us to continue with the local system including the current electronic system,” the GPRTU’s PRO mentioned.
He further mentioned that there are numerous benefits his members who take advantage of the GoRide will gain including monetary rewards higher than the ones existing on the market.
He continued that, “our charges are quite moderate compared to existing ride-hailing apps. With this also, the driver gets more money than those ones. They take more percentage than GoRide. We encourage the general public to try it and they will come to love it better than any other on the market.”
Emphasizing that the app is very user-friendly, he encouraged all Ghanaians and taxi drivers to patronize the app for the mutual benefit of the two parties.
