Accra has been named as the next city to join Uber’s booming network in Africa (www.Uber.com).The economically vibrant hub is the first city in Ghana to receive the service.

With a thriving urban population, Accra’s 2.27 million people will have access to efficient transport through the ride-sharing platform. Uber is excited to explore the potential of this dynamic city.

Uber has proven popular across the world’s cities for its provision of affordable, safe and reliable transport.

Through an easy-to-use platform, it connects drivers with riders in real time, at the touch of a button. With over 4 million people using the streets in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), there is a clear demand for Uber’s services.

The World Bank reports that since 2014, mobile phone penetration exceeded 100% in Ghana, compared to 1% in 2000.

The people of Ghana also benefit from increasing availability of high-speed Internet, creating the perfect environment for information technology-enabled services such as Uber.

General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits says “Accra is bustling, connected city that Uber is proud to be launching in. It’s rapid growth and multiple ethnic communities make it an exciting place to introduce our service.”

“At Uber, we bring the world closer together by connecting global citizens to transport in a growing number of cities. We see Accra as a natural fit, because its people are willing to embrace innovation and technology and love products that are cool, exclusive and offer a new experience. We are able to deliver just that, safely, reliably and affordably.”

Get Your Ride

No more street hails or waiting outside to find a ride. You can start the Uber app from anywhere and wait safely for your car to arrive. That means no standing on the street to hail a cab or struggling to find the nearest bus stop late at night.

You can easily identify the driver and car coming to pick you up. When a driver accepts your request, you see his or her first name, photo, and license plate number. You can also check whether others have had a good experience with him or her. In addition, the driver can see your first name and rating.

You can contact the driver—and vice versa— through the app if there is any confusion around pick-up details. 

Share Your Ride Details

Share your ETA and location. You can easily share your ride details, including the specific route and estimated time of arrival, with friends or family for extra peace of mind.

They’ll receive a link where they can see in real time the name and photo of the driver, their vehicle, and where you are on the map until you arrive at your destination—and they can do all of this without having to download the Uber app themselves.

After the Ride

·         Feedback and ratings after every trip.  After every ride, you and your drivers need to rate each other and provide feedback. Our safety team reviews this information and investigates any issues.

·         24/7 Support. If something happens in a car, whether it’s a traffic accident or altercation between you and your driver, our customer support staff are ready to respond to any issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

·         Rapid Response. We have a dedicated Incident Response Team to answer any more urgent issues. If we receive a report that a driver or rider has acted dangerously or inappropriately, we suspend their account, preventing him or her from accessing the platform while we investigate.

Behind the Scenes

·         Always on the map. Accountability is one of the things that makes riders feel safe in an Uber. We use GPS to keep a record of where a driver goes during the ride, allowing us to verify that the most efficient routes are being used, which creates accountability and a strong incentive for good behavior.

·         Working with law enforcement. In cases where law enforcement provides us with valid legal process, we work to get them the facts, for example by providing trip logs. Again, transparency and accountability are at the heart of the Uber experience.

·         Pre-screening drivers.  All drivers must undergo a screening process before they can use the Uber app.

Lits adds, “Our platform contributes to a broader evolution in global transportation where riders are empowered to access transport on their terms, in a way that is useful to them and sustainable for our cities. We are excited to add a the vibrant, growing economy of Accra to our global network.”

Uber is celebrating its launch in Accra by providing free rides. Ghanaians can try out the new service by accessing their complimentary rides on the Uber app (insert dates and times here).

THE FINE PRINT (Terms and Conditions for free rides)

You must download the Uber application and enter the promo code MoveGhana in order to receive the free rides. Free rides are available from Thursday 9 June at 12:00 until Sunday 12 June at midnight

Users are limited to a total of 6 free rides and each trip is limited to maximum of  GHS 20 each.

Note that free rides are only valid for trips that start & end in the Accra in the coverage area.

uberX fare prices (Accra)

GHS 1.70 Base Fare + GHS 1.30 per kilometer + GHS 0.19 per minute

Minimum Fare: GHS 5

Cancellation Fee: GHS 5

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Uber.